Solar panels: what costs do you have to wait?
A solar system on your own roof can be an asset. However, many find it difficult to estimate the cost of solar panels mounted on the roof - in addition, there are often quite contradicting statements with regard to the expected electricity costs. We asked the cost check experts what costs should be expected for solar panels on the roof.
Question: What do solar panels cost on the roof?
Cost check expert: When talking about a classic photovoltaic system for generating electricity (PVA), the costs are primarily based on the output of such a system, which is always given in kWp (kilowatt peak, i.e. peak output). Solar thermal systems, with which you cannot generate electricity but only warm water, are a completely different matter. Just click on the link if you want to learn more about it.
With a PVA for generating electricity, there are very good guidelines as to what costs you can expect: per kWp you can roughly assume system costs in the range of around 1,200 to 1,700.USD The costs always depend on what type of modules you want to use.
solar panel costs
How many solar panels are needed for a single family home?
In order to cover the electricity requirements of an average single-family house in which 4 people live, you have to assume system sizes in the range of around 5 kWp, i.e. system costs in the range of 6,000 USD to 8,500 USD. You will receive enough solar panels to cover the electricity consumption of a normal household. Of course, plants can also be dimensioned correspondingly larger in order to generate surpluses, which can then be fed into the public grid (and receive a guaranteed state remuneration for this).
Electricity generation costs and running costs for the facility
Contrary to what many people still believe, the electricity you generate yourself using a PV system is not free. Even with systems that are already fully amortized, electricity generation costs of around 0.08 USD to 0.12 USD per kWh must be expected.
The sun works for free, but there are annual running costs for the operation of the system, plus taxes that you have to pay for the electricity generated (even if you only use it yourself). If you generate corresponding surpluses at the same time and receive the state feed-in tariff for this, you can reduce your electricity generation costs to less than 0.03 USD per kWh in individual cases with careful planning.
If you only want to use your electricity yourself, you have to store it temporarily for times when the sun is not shining. Many are not aware that high storage costs can often arise here, which can make the whole thing economically unprofitable very quickly. This is mainly due to the still high to very high costs for corresponding electricity storage systems, which are often only insufficiently covered by the new state subsidies.
Cost example from practice
We procure a solar system with an output of 5 kWp for the roof of our family home.
Question: What is the range of costs for solar panels on the roof?
Cost check experts: With a PV system, you must generally assume costs of between around 5,000 USD and 15,000 USD for the system itself for a single-family home.
The costs depend on the performance the system is to achieve and the electricity yield expected at the respective location. In northern Germany, around 900 kWh per kWp output per year are considered realistic; in good locations in southern Germany this can be over 1,000 kWh per kWp output.
However, it is not only the acquisition costs for the system that must be taken into account - an economic efficiency calculation should also take into account the costs for electricity generation itself (ongoing system costs), the costs for any generated and remunerated surpluses (guaranteed feed-in remuneration) and the possible savings in one's own electricity consumption become. This essentially decides what the optimal dimensioning of a solar system looks like in each individual case. In any case, professional, profound advice and profitability calculations are indispensable before buying. If necessary, you should always get a second opinion
Question: What does the cost of solar panels on the roof depend on?
solar panel costs
The prices for solar panels depend on various factors.
Cost check expert: The key here is:
- What type of system it should be (solar thermal or PV system)
- which system dimensioning is selected
- which running costs have to be taken into account (servicing, maintenance, cleaning, insurance against storm damage)
- whether surpluses should be generated and fed into the public grid (possible profits from the guaranteed feed-in tariff)
- Whether electricity should be temporarily stored for personal use (possibly high storage costs for electricity)