8kW Solar System

8kw solar system

Solar system is more than just panels. All the components have to be sized together well to work properly. At A1SolarStore you can order a complete solar system that is ready to be installed. We offer systems of a different design and you can use them for your home or a commercial project.

What is a 8kW solar system

The role of your solar installation can be different depending on its configuration. There are three types of systems: grid-tie, off-grid and hybrid ones.

Grid-tie system is the most popular way to install panels and it’s the easiest way to make a system pay for itself. Your house is connected to the grid, but your appliances use the energy from your panels during the day. You can even sell excess energy into the grid and the utility will give you credits in return that can be used to pay bills for night consumption. The exact savings that your system will bring in depend on the net metering policy in the state, electric rates of your utility and your 8kw solar system daily output.

Hybrid system is a lot like a grid-tie system, except that you use a hybrid inverter which supports a battery. Battery can be used at times when electricity rates are the highest and, more importantly, during power outages. While grid-tie systems simply shut down during blackouts, a hybrid inverter switches your house to battery support instead.

An 8000 watt off grid solar system can be a great call if your house is located in a remote location where there are no power lines — for example, in the middle of a forest. Such a system requires solar panels, an off-grid inverter, batteries for night energy consumption and charge controller to keep your battery safe from overcharge, deep discharge and high voltage of your array.

An 8kW of power can be enough to support a medium to large house. But how many kwh does a 8kw solar system produce? It depends on the number of factors.

• Weather. Contrary to what some people believe, panels still work when it’s cloudy since they make use of the invisible radiation that penetrates the clouds. However, their performance drops by 20-40% on gloomy days.
• Shading. One shaded cell of a PV module can shut down a whole part of it. Moreover, if you’re using a simple string inverter, the performance of every panel in the array drops to the level of the shaded one. Add solar optimizers to decrease the impact of shading on your system.
• Positioning. Panels should face south if you live in the northern hemisphere. The tilt of your modules can be equal to your latitude or you can just set it between 30 and 45 degrees. It is easier to get the right positioning with the ground-based systems.
• Hours of sunlight. Some locations just get more sunlight than the others, thus a solar panel system produces more energy. For instance in New York the number of peak sun hours, when panels work to their fullest, ranges from 3 to 4 hours on average. However, in California you get 5-6 peak sun hours. If you want to know how much does a 8kw solar system produce, you can simply multiply the power capacity of your system by the number of peak sun hours in your area. For instance, in Los Angeles it should be capable of producing around 40 to 48 kWh of power per day.

A lot, however, depends on the panels as well. The efficiency number of monocrystalline modules range from 17% to 22%. The panels from different manufacturers behave differently in low-light conditions as well as at high temperatures.

8kw solar system cost

Design of your system, the panels that you’ll pick, solar incentives that are available in your state — all of that is going to contribute to how much you'll pay for your system and when you can expect the return on your investments. First, let’s talk about the panels.

A 8kw solar system kit can include from 15 to 25 panels, depending on what wattage you’ll choose. Chinese brands like Jinko, JA, Trina Solar offer the cheapest panels. While they are affordable, they also have great efficiency numbers which means that they convert more sunlight to electricity than PV modules with lower conversion rates. North America is represented on the solar market by brands like Canadian Solar, Silfab, Aptos and Mission Solar. Their prices are a bit higher, but the panels have higher quality. The best PV modules come from companies like LG, Panasonic, Sunpower, REC, but they do cost a lot.

An 8 kw solar system can be installed on the roof or on the ground. Ground-based installation is cheaper, but it requires more maintenance and occupies space. Ground installation allows you to get the positioning and angle right, which results in higher production levels.

Grid-tie system is the most simple and thus the cheapest type of installation. You only need the panels, the inverter plus the wiring. Net metering ensures a steady income from your system. A PV system in the US can pay for itself in 6-8 years, but a lot depends on electricity rates, solar policies in the region and sun hours in your location.

Hybrid systems are a bit more costly, since you need energy storage and a high-tech inverter. However, these systems sometimes pay for themselves quicker because energy storage helps avoid peak electricity rates. An off-grid 8kw solar system with batteries is the most expensive configuration. Not only are batteries pricey by themselves, you don’t have net metering available to you.

You should always try to apply for solar incentives that are available to you. Consult with your installer about solar programs in your area. The most important one is the Federal Solar Credit (ITC) program which is available for residential and commercial installations. You can get back up to 26% of your final 8kw solar system price through taxes. This includes equipment like controllers and batteries, plus shipment and installation services.