Free Interactive Tool • 2026 Solar PV & Subsidy Sizing

Solar Load Calculator — Rooftop Capacity& Inverter Sizing

Estimate your daily electricity units (kWh), recommended solar plant capacity (kW), inverter rating (kVA), number of 540W solar panels, and eligible PM Surya Ghar central government subsidy (up to ₹78,000) in seconds.

Home/Solar Load Calculator

Direct Answer: How Solar Load & Inverter Sizing Is Calculated

Engineering calculation standard for residential and commercial rooftop solar in India

Verified 2026 Standards

To calculate electrical load for solar panel installation, multiply each appliance's rated wattage by its daily run time, sum all watt-hours, and divide by 1,000 to determine daily consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Next, divide your total daily kWh by your region's average peak sun hours (4.2 hours across North India and Delhi NCR) to calculate required solar plant capacity in kilowatts (kW). Inverter sizing is determined in apparent power (kVA) using the standard formula: Inverter kVA = Solar kW ÷ 0.85 Power Factor to safely absorb inductive motor surges from inverter air conditioners and water pumps. For an average home consuming 12–15 units per day, a 3 kW rooftop solar system requires a 3.5–4.0 kVA solar inverter, 6 × 540W monocrystalline panels, and 240 sq. ft. of shadow-free rooftop space, saving up to 90% on electricity bills with an approved ₹78,000 PM Surya Ghar subsidy.

1. Daily Units (kWh)
Σ (Watts × Hours) ÷ 1,000
2. Solar Plant (kW)
Daily kWh ÷ 4.2 Sun Hrs
3. Inverter Sizing (kVA)
Solar kW ÷ 0.85 (PF)
4. Roof Area Required
System kW × 80 Sq. Ft.
Technical Review: Brightleaf Solar Engineering Team (MNRE & CEA Compliant)
Updated: 2026 PM Surya Ghar Subsidy Guidelines
Interactive Engineering Tool • Dual Sizing Mode

Calculate Solar PV Capacity & Inverter Sizing

Estimate your solar plant kW, inverter kVA rating, 540W panel count, shadow-free roof space, and central PM Surya Ghar subsidy in real time.

Quick Presets:
Connection:
4,800 / month

Adjust the slider to match your property's typical monthly bill.

₹1,500/mo12,000/mo25,000+/mo
Monthly Units
~600 kWh
Daily Generation
~20.0 Units/Day
Grid Tariff
8.00 / Unit
Want to calculate by individual ACs, fans, and pumps?

Your Sizing Results

Engineered for Delhi NCR solar conditions

Recommended Rooftop Solar Plant
4.8kW Capacity

Generates approx. 20.0 Units/Day (600 Units/Month)

540W Panels
9 Panels
Tier-1 Mono PERC
Rooftop Space
384 Sq. Ft.
Shadow-free area
Inverter Sizing
5.7 kVA
Surge-safe (0.85 PF)
Govt. Subsidy
78,000
PM Surya Ghar
Annual Bill Savings
57,600 / Yr
Payback: ~3.6 Yrs • 25Y: ~₹11,52,000
Estimated Net System Cost
2,10,000
Gross: ₹2,88,000 • Subsidy: ₹78,000
Subsidy Included
Engineering Methodology

How to Calculate Load for Solar Installation

A comprehensive step-by-step walkthrough of the electrical load calculation for solar panel setups used by professional solar EPC engineers.

01

1. List Appliances & Daily Wh

Multiply the rated wattage of each appliance by the hours it operates per day:

Watt-Hours = Watts × Qty × Hours

Divide total daily Wh by 1,000 to find your daily energy consumption in kWh (units).

02

2. Solar PV Sizing (kW)

Divide your daily kWh requirement by India's average peak sun hours (4.2 hours in Delhi NCR):

Solar kW = Daily kWh ÷ 4.2

A home consuming 12 units/day needs approximately a 3 kW solar array.

03

3. Inverter kVA Sizing

Inverters must handle reactive power from motors and compressors. Size inverter kVA using:

Inverter kVA = kW ÷ 0.85 (PF)

For a 3 kW PV setup, choose a 3.5 to 4 kVA rated solar inverter to prevent tripping.

04

4. Rooftop Space Estimation

Calculate panel quantity and roof space using high-efficiency 540W monocrystalline modules:

Area (Sq Ft) = System kW × 80

Ensure the designated rooftop space is shadow-free between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Load Estimation Data

Standard Indian Household Appliance Wattage Chart

Use this benchmark wattage reference table to calculate electrical load for solar panel sizing and battery backup requirements.

Appliance NameTypical Power Rating (Watts)Average Daily Run TimeDaily Consumption (kWh)
1.5 Ton Inverter AC (5-Star)1500 W8 Hours12.0 kWh
1.5 Ton Split AC (3-Star)1800 W8 Hours14.4 kWh
BLDC Ceiling Fan32 W12 Hours0.38 kWh
Standard Ceiling Fan75 W12 Hours0.90 kWh
LED Bulb / Batten (10 Nos)150 W6 Hours0.90 kWh
Double Door Refrigerator (250L)200 W24 Hours1.80 kWh
Large Refrigerator (450L)350 W24 Hours2.80 kWh
55-inch Smart LED TV100 W5 Hours0.50 kWh
Fully Automatic Washing Machine500 W1 Hours0.50 kWh
1.0 HP Submersible Water Pump750 W1 Hours0.75 kWh
Microwave Oven1200 W0.5 Hours0.60 kWh
Storage Geyser (25L Water Heater)2000 W2 Hours4.00 kWh
Electric Vehicle (EV) Home Charger3300 W4 Hours13.2 kWh
Reference Matrix

Solar Plant Capacity, Inverter kVA & Rooftop Space Matrix

Quick reference guide for common residential and commercial rooftop solar configurations in India.

Solar Size (kW)Inverter (kVA)Daily Generation540W PanelsRoof AreaPM Surya Ghar SubsidyApprox. Net CostEst. Annual Savings
1 kW Solar System1.2 – 1.5 kVA4 – 5 Units/day2 Panels~80 Sq. Ft.₹30,000₹30,000 – ₹35,000₹11,500 / yr
2 kW Solar System2.5 kVA8 – 10 Units/day4 Panels~160 Sq. Ft.₹60,000₹60,000 – ₹65,000₹23,000 / yr
3 kW Solar System3.5 – 4.0 kVA12 – 15 Units/day6 Panels~240 Sq. Ft.₹78,000 (Max)₹1,02,000 – ₹1,12,000₹36,000 / yr
4 kW Solar System4.5 – 5.0 kVA16 – 20 Units/day8 Panels~320 Sq. Ft.₹78,000₹1,55,000 – ₹1,68,000₹48,000 / yr
5 kW Solar System5.5 – 6.0 kVA20 – 25 Units/day10 Panels~400 Sq. Ft.₹78,000₹2,10,000 – ₹2,30,000₹60,000 / yr
7.5 kW Solar System8.5 – 10.0 kVA30 – 35 Units/day14 Panels~600 Sq. Ft.₹78,000₹3,40,000 – ₹3,70,000₹92,000 / yr
10 kW Solar System12.0 – 12.5 kVA40 – 50 Units/day19 Panels~800 Sq. Ft.Commercial Tax Benefits₹5,20,000 – ₹5,80,000₹1,30,000 / yr
15 kW Solar System17.5 – 20.0 kVA60 – 75 Units/day28 Panels~1,200 Sq. Ft.Commercial Tax Benefits₹7,50,000 – ₹8,40,000₹2,00,000 / yr
Technical Deep Dive

Solar Inverter Sizing: Real Power (kW) vs. Apparent Power (kVA)

Why an inverter rating in kVA must exceed the DC peak wattage of your solar PV array, and how power factor impacts real-world performance.

PF

Power Factor (cos θ)

Real power (kW) performs actual mechanical or thermal work, while apparent power (kVA) represents the total power flowing through alternating current (AC) circuits. The ratio is the Power Factor (PF):

kVA = kW ÷ Power Factor (0.85)

Residential homes operate at an average 0.80 to 0.88 power factor due to inductive motors.

AC

Inrush & Motor Surge Headroom

Inductive loads such as 1.5-ton inverter air conditioners, water pumps, and refrigerator compressors draw 2.5× to 3× their rated current for 2–5 seconds during startup:

Surge kVA ≥ Rated kW × 1.25 to 1.50

Sizing your solar inverter with a 15–20% buffer prevents nuisance tripping when compressors engage.

BAT

Hybrid Battery Sizing Formula

For hybrid or off-grid solar systems with energy storage, battery bank capacity is calculated using depth of discharge (DoD):

Battery Ah = Daily Wh ÷ (V × DoD)

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries allow 90% DoD, compared to 50% for tubular lead-acid batteries.

Delhi NCR's Premier Rooftop Solar EPC Partner

Why Property Owners Trust Brightleaf Energy for Rooftop Solar

From engineering load assessments to hassle-free PM Surya Ghar subsidy disbursement, Brightleaf Energy delivers turnkey rooftop solar installations backed by 25-year performance warranties.

Tier-1 Hardware & 25-Yr Warranty

We only install MNRE-approved Tier-1 TOPCon and Mono PERC solar panels with 25-year linear performance warranties and top-tier European/Indian inverters.

100% Subsidy Assistance

Our operations team manages your complete PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana documentation, portal submission, and direct bank subsidy disbursement of up to ₹78,000.

Expert Inverter & Load Sizing

We perform an on-site electrical load calculation for solar panel readiness, ensuring your solar inverter rating matches heavy inductive loads like inverter ACs and EV chargers.

Fast DISCOM Net Metering

End-to-end liaisoning with BSES Yamuna, BSES Rajdhani, TPDDL, DHBVN, PVVNL, and NPCL for bidirectional net meter installation and grid integration.

3D Drone Shadow Analysis

Our rooftop solar calculations are verified on-site with drone surveys and 3D shadow simulation tools to optimize tilt angle and eliminate seasonal generation losses.

500+ Commissioned Plants

Trusted by hundreds of villas, independent builder floors, residential societies, and industrial plants across Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad.

Process

3 Simple Steps to Your Custom Solar Sizing Estimate

01

Select Appliances & Daily Usage

Choose the appliances in your property — ACs, fans, lights, fridge, TV, washing machine, water pump — and set daily operating hours.

02

Review Plant Capacity & Inverter Sizing

Our tool instantly computes your daily energy consumption (kWh), recommended system size in kW, and optimal inverter rating.

03

Download Your Personalized Report

Get an engineering solar assessment with subsidy breakdown, net cost, payback period, and CO₂ offset sent to your email or WhatsApp.

Sizing Advantages

Why Homeowners & Businesses Use This Tool

Instant Electrical Load Sizing

Execute complete electrical load calculation for solar panel setups in seconds without tedious manual formulas.

Dual kW & kVA Sizing

Get matching plant capacity and inverter ratings for surge-safe performance.

Accurate Rooftop Solar Space

Calculates realistic shadow-free rooftop space (approx 80 sq. ft. per kW) for high-efficiency 540W modules.

PM Surya Ghar Subsidy

Automatically factors up to ₹78,000 residential central government subsidy to reflect true net cost.

Downloadable PDF Report

Receive an engineering report detailing payback period, monthly unit output, and 25-year return on investment.

Free Site Assessment

Backed by Brightleaf Energy — Delhi NCR's trusted turnkey rooftop solar EPC company.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Sizing

How to calculate electrical load for solar panel installation?+
To calculate load for solar installation: 1) Multiply the rated wattage of each appliance by its daily operating hours to find daily Watt-hours (Wh). 2) Sum all appliances and divide by 1,000 to get total daily kilowatt-hours (kWh or units). 3) Divide your daily kWh requirement by average peak sun hours (approx. 4.2 hours across India and Delhi NCR) to calculate required solar panel capacity in kW. For example, a home consuming 12 units/day needs 12 ÷ 4.2 = 2.85 kW, rounded up to a 3 kW solar system.
What is the difference between kW and kVA in solar inverter sizing?+
kW (Kilowatt) measures the real, working electrical power produced by your solar panels. kVA (Kilovolt-Ampere) measures apparent power, which accounts for both real power and reactive power drawn by inductive loads such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and water pumps. Inverters are sized using the formula: Inverter kVA = Solar System kW ÷ Power Factor (typically 0.85). For instance, a 5 kW solar plant requires a 5.5 to 6.0 kVA solar inverter to safely handle appliance startup surges without tripping.
What is the standard formula for solar load calculation?+
The standard engineering formulas are: 1) Daily Consumption (kWh) = Σ (Appliance Wattage × Quantity × Operating Hours) ÷ 1,000. 2) Solar Array Size (kW) = Daily kWh ÷ 4.2 Peak Sun Hours. 3) Inverter Rating (kVA) = Solar Array kW ÷ 0.85 (Power Factor). 4) Panel Quantity = (System kW × 1,000) ÷ 540W (Tier-1 Monocrystalline Module Wattage). 5) Shadow-Free Roof Space (Sq. Ft.) = System kW × 80 Sq. Ft.
How much rooftop area is required for 1kW, 3kW, and 5kW solar systems?+
Using modern high-efficiency 540W–550W Tier-1 monocrystalline solar panels, approximately 80 square feet of shadow-free rooftop space is required per 1 kW of installed capacity. A 1 kW system needs ~80 sq. ft. (2 panels), a 3 kW system needs ~240 sq. ft. (6 panels), and a 5 kW system requires ~400 sq. ft. (10 panels).
How much government subsidy can I get under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana?+
Under the central PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (2026), residential rooftop solar systems qualify for direct bank transfer subsidies: ₹30,000 for a 1 kW system, ₹60,000 for a 2 kW system, and ₹78,000 maximum for systems of 3 kW capacity or larger. Delhi homeowners also benefit from the Delhi Solar Policy's additional Generation-Based Incentive (GBI) of up to ₹3/unit.
How many units of electricity does a 1kW, 3kW, and 5kW solar system generate daily?+
In North India and Delhi NCR, 1 kW of solar capacity generates an average of 4 to 5 units (kWh) of electricity per day (120–150 units/month). A 3 kW solar system produces 12 to 15 units/day (360–450 units/month), while a 5 kW system generates 20 to 25 units/day (600–750 units/month), accounting for seasonal variations.
Can this solar load calculator be used for commercial and industrial buildings?+
Yes. You can switch between residential and commercial modes. Commercial facilities with three-phase power connections benefit from 40% accelerated tax depreciation, net metering credits, and significant daytime peak-tariff cost reductions, though the residential PM Surya Ghar subsidy applies strictly to domestic connections.
How long does it take to recover the cost of rooftop solar installation?+
With the PM Surya Ghar subsidy and net metering, residential rooftop solar systems in Delhi NCR typically achieve full cost payback within 3 to 4 years. Commercial installations often recover costs in 3 to 5 years through electricity bill reductions of up to 90% and accelerated depreciation tax benefits, providing free green power for the remaining 20+ years of the panel's 25-year warranty.
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