How Much Does An Off-Grid Solar System Cost? | Eco Happy

On average, it costs between £14,000 and £80,000 to install an off-grid solar system in the UK. However, this price will vary as every household has unique energy needs. 

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With ever-increasing energy costs, you may be looking for ways to reduce your monthly energy bills or go completely off-grid. Installing an off-grid solar system is a great way to achieve complete energy independence.

Let&#;s look at what it costs to go completely off-grid with solar power, factors that affect the costs, and alternative solutions.

What Is The Cost Of An Off-Grid Solar System?

The cost of a simple off-grid solar system varies based on system size, with prices from around £14,000 to £80,000 or more. This includes the costs of purchasing and installing solar panels, batteries, and an inverter.

You are looking at basic costs of between £3,000 and £8,000 for every kilowatt required. This is a breakdown of costs for solar panels based solely on energy needs:

Solar power system sizeApproximate starting costApproximate top costSmall system (3 kW)£9,000£24,000Medium system (5 kW)£15,000£40,000Large system (8 kW)£24,000£64,000

Off-grid solar power components and costs

The size of a solar power system plays a huge role in the overall costs, as well as any additional solar power system components. 

Solar power component (per unit)CostDetailsSolar panel£150 &#; £350Monocrystalline panels are the most efficient solar panels. They are pricier, but they have better energy output.Solar battery£4,000 (lithium-ion) or £62 (lead acid)Lithium-ion batteries are pricier, but they have better overall features and a longer lifespan, making them a better option than acid-lead batteries.Inverter£2,400 &#; £11,000An inverter converts the current from DC to AC power to be used in your home.Solar charge controller£20 for Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controllers.
£160 for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controllers.Solar charge controllers manage and regulate the electricity between your solar panels, batteries, and appliances.

What Factors Impact The Cost Of Going Off-Grid?

Various factors would affect the cost of going off-grid, including your property&#;s energy requirements and the amount of sunlight available in your area. 

Your energy consumption

The size of your off-grid solar system would largely depend on your property&#;s energy usage. Larger systems cost more than smaller, simpler ones.

Number of solar panels needed

The number of solar panels you need for your system will impact the overall cost, depending on your average energy consumption and the solar panel wattage. An average UK household requires around 30 solar panels for a completely off-grid system.

Sunlight

Your system needs to have access to a lot of sunlight. For example, if your property is in a valley shaded by trees or mountains, the system won&#;t get the sunlight it needs. As a result, you may need a larger system to catch more sunlight or specialised panel placement, which will increase the costs involved. 

Battery size

You will need a battery to store energy for times when it is cloudy or at night. If you have a larger solar panel system and higher energy needs, you will require a bigger battery, raising the overall costs. 

Brand of the equipment

Different brands have different prices, but they also have varying quality. You would need to decide whether you want a cheaper brand that may not provide the same quality or results as a costlier one.

Location

Installation costs can differ depending on your region. More remote locations may pay more for the installation labour costs due to the availability of professional solar panel installers in the area. 

Existing energy setup and new connections

The solar energy will need to be transferred to your home or business and connected to your existing system. You may be required to rewire some of your connections or upgrade your boiler, for example, to ensure it&#;s compatible with your off-grid system.

What Alternatives Are There To Off-Grid Solar Systems?

There are solar systems that remain connected to the national power grid. These systems generate electricity but allow you to fall back on energy from a utility company in the event of a shortfall. While you will still pay for some electricity, these systems help reduce your overall reliance on the grid and your monthly energy bills.

Net metered systems (grid-tied)

Cost: £5,000 &#; 8,000

Net-metered solar systems generate energy for your home and are also attached to the national grid. Additionally, any excess energy that your panels produce can be sold back to the grid via the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). This means that you&#;ll be able to use electricity from the national grid when your panels can&#;t generate energy at night or on cloudy days.

Hybrid systems

Cost: Around £10,000

Hybrid solar systems have solar panels as well as battery storage. It can provide power on sunny days, cloudy days, and at night. However, when your stored energy runs out, you can fall back on the national grid. 

Get A Free Off-Grid Solar System Quote Today

Whether you&#;re ready to step off the grid or just want to explore your options, contact us at Eco Happy for a free quote.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Off Grid Power Solutions.

Our qualified solar system installers can assist you with any queries and help you make an informed decision about an off-grid system suited to your needs. 

FAQs

How can I determine the viability of getting an off-grid system?

To determine whether it is viable to install an off-grid solar system for your property, it is best to have a solar installation company like Eco Happy give you a full analysis and quotation to determine your exact needs. However, there are long-term benefits that can outweigh the initial costs and make it viable to go off the grid.

How do labour costs factor into the installation of off-grid systems?

Solar companies will charge you for installing and setting up your off-grid solar systems. These costs involve the time it takes and the complexity of the project. They will add the costs of the solar panels and components, additional mountings, and labour to the quote. Companies can charge anywhere between 7% and 20% for labour.

Is it worth getting an off-grid solar system?

When you weigh up the pros and cons of getting an off-grid solar system installed, the benefits far outweigh the initial setup costs, making off-grid solar panels worth it. Using solar power helps reduce your carbon footprint and promote environmental sustainability. You will also save significantly on your monthly energy bills. 

Conclusion

Going off-grid is a worthy consideration. Solar power is a great alternative energy source to relying on fossil fuels and the national grid. Additionally, it&#;s a great way to save on your energy bills and contribute to a greener future.

When doing your calculations, remember to factor in costs for labour, parts, installation, and battery backup. Consider your electricity usage, the solar panel output, the removal of your grid connection, and any solar incentives available where you live.

An off-grid solar system is a stand-alone unit that is not connected to the electricity grid.

Off-grid solar systems are expensive and are typically only a viable option when the cost to connect a property to the electricity network is exorbitant. If you have a grid connection, you are far better buying a solar panel system. This guide covers:

• Off-grid system prices
• Off-grid system size
• How does off-grid work?
• Considerations before you buy
• Finding an off-grid installer

Stand-alone solar system prices

Off-grid solar system prices vary depending on how much power you use, your location and the amount of backup power that you have.

Average off-grid system prices:

Dwelling size Average price Small 2Br home $15,000 &#; $25,000 Average 3Br home $15,000 &#; $25,000 Average 4Br home $25,000 &#; $45,000 Heavy power user $45,000 &#; $70,000+

Battery storage makes off-grid expensive

The cost of an off-grid system for a typical Australian home (18kWh / day) ranges between $25,000 &#; $45,000. The price is much higher due to the amount of battery storage necessary to power your home during winter months and days of minimal solar production. By comparison, a 6.6kW solar system would provide ample solar power for the same electricity usage, but the cost is dramatically lower at between $6,000 &#; $8,500.

Battery life

Solar batteries are the most expensive component of an off-grid system, and the cost of replacing them is high. You will likely need to replace the batteries every ten years. The cost to replace the batteries may be up to half the cost of your total stand-alone system.

System size for off-grid solar

The key to a successful off-grid system is installing enough panels and batteries to power your daily electricity usage and not leave you in the dark, literally! The best way to start is to calculate your daily electricity needs; our off-grid solar calculator does this for you by going through each appliance in your house.

Days of autonomy

If you do not have any backup power in the form of a generator, you want enough solar storage to get you through three days. If your panels do not generate any solar energy in three days, you will still have power. The amount of storage and days of autonomy depends on your location; far more storage is necessary in Tasmania and Victoria as opposed to Queensland. Some off-grid installers recommend more panels and less storage, and it is best to lean on them for advice as they will understand your local conditions.

Backup power source

It is common for stand-alone solar systems to have a back-up power source in the form of a diesel generator or wind turbine. Backup power is beneficial and can alleviate the 100% reliance on battery storage.

How does off-grid solar work?

Off-grid Solar Systems work by generating electricity from solar panels and using it to charge a solar battery via a charge controller. An inverter converts the direct current(DC) to alternate current(AC) so that it can power your home or business appliances. Excess solar power charges your solar battery so that you can use the electricity at night or during times when your system is not generating power.

Components of an off-grid solar system

For an off-grid solar power system to work effectively in the average home, you will require the following components:

• Solar panels
• Solar battery bank
• An inverter
• Solar charge controller
• Alternative energy source (optional)

Solar panels

Solar panels are a must for a stand-alone system. The number of panels you need will depend on your daily electricity usage and location.

Solar batteries

A solar battery is also necessary to allow your home to continue to run after the sun goes down. Throughout the day, your solar battery will charge as your panels generate excess electricity. Rather than simply losing out on all of that available solar power, a battery enables you to keep it for use at a later time. A stand-alone solar system typically needs a battery bank rather than a single unit.

Solar inverter

The solar inverter converts the direct current collected by your solar panel array into the alternating current required to run your household appliances and electronics. For an off-grid system, you will likely use a stand-alone inverter, though there are a few options when it comes to set-up.

Solar charge controller

The solar charge controller or battery charger is vital to the health of your battery. The controller regulates the voltage and current that your solar battery receives, to prevent overcharging and damage.

Alternative energy sources

It may be worth considering an alternative source of energy as a back-up for your system. Backup power sources are especially handy during the depths of winter when solar production is at its lowest. Many owners who use off-grid systems combine them with a generator that can power some of their homes&#; electricity needs.

Is going off-grid right for you?

Unless the cost to connect to the electricity grid is exorbitant, we recommend buying a grid-connect system. Typically, if the grid-connection cost is below $25,000, you are better off connecting and then buying solar panels or a hybrid system. It is possible to derive the benefits of solar panels without forking out so much on an off-grid system.

Environmental impact

Sustainable living is one of the motivating factors for many off-grid system owners, and using a renewable resource like solar power seems like the perfect way to lower your carbon footprint. However, your excess, clean energy goes to waste with an off-grid system. If you have a grid connection, your solar energy can be exported back into the grid and then used by someone else.

Energy independence

If you have a grid connection and you want total energy independence, then you are better to go for a hybrid solar system with back-up power functionality. A hybrid system will be much cheaper than a stand-alone unit and, you can use power from the grid when you need it.

You are on your own

If your power system is knocked offline by equipment failure or inclement weather, your energy company isn&#;t coming to your aid. You must have total confidence in your system components and the person installing your unit.

Find the right installer for your off-grid system

Off-grid system installation is a specialty craft and not a service that most solar companies provide. The quality of the installation is paramount to the ongoing operation of the system. We can put you in touch with specialist off-grid installers. All you need to do is complete our off-grid quote request.

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