Solar Panel Cost Calculator: Are They Worth It?
Solar Panel Cost Calculator: Are They Worth It?
Power bills on the rise? Saving on your electricity bill makes you consider having solar panels, but, let’s face it – solar panel installation comes with a price tag that may make the average homeowner have second thoughts about it. Most homeowners wonder if a solar panel system will be worth the investment.
Hence, this post covers all the basics—like the benefits of using solar panels, how many panels you need for your home, and your break-even point. We’ll explain what affects how long solar cells work well and share easy ways to check if yours meet your needs.
Key Takeaways
- Most solar panels last 25 to 30 years and still work after that, but make less power over time. Many brands offer long warranties, best to check with the solar company.
- Solar panels lose about 0.5% to 0.8% of their output each year due to wear and sun exposure. This means most quality panels retain 90% of original power of their peak years.
- Regular cleaning and yearly checks help keep panels working well for longer.
- Aside from savings with solar power use, more savings can be further achieved through net metering or renewable energy credits.
- With our solar panel cost savings calculator with break-even point, you can estimate whether solar panel installation will be worth the money spent.
Average Life Span of Solar Panels
Most solar photovoltaic modules last 25 to 30 years, thanks to advances in silicon crystal and cadmium telluride technology. Over the years, you might notice a slight drop in energy production—something experts call potential-induced degradation.
This is the typical lifespan for most photovoltaic (pv) modules, regardless of whether they are constructed with monocrystalline silicon cells or thin-film technologies such as cadmium telluride.
Warranties from top manufacturers typically cover from 10 to 25 years. Photovoltaic power systems stay on your roof long after, but their energy production may gradually drop, although minimally.
Even after this period, many solar modules keep making electricity, just less than when new.
Proper care and yearly checks help maintain efficiency so that your rooftop solar stays useful right up to its expected lifecycle end. Reusing and recycling old pv cells supports a circular economy and reduces solid waste from photovoltaic materials over time.
There are even some apps now that help monitor a solar panel’s efficiency.
Efficiency Decline Over Time
Output drops a little each year due to panel degradation. Most solar photovoltaic systems lose about 0.5% to 0.8% efficiency every year —by the end of 25 years, your pv system may be at only about 82.5% output if it sees a higher annual drop (0.8%).
Heat, winds, and other weather conditions can also add wear and cause microcracks in wafers or support frames—speeding up this loss even more for some homes in harsher climates within Southeast Asia or areas exposed to typhoons like the Philippines during peak sun hours.
Benefits of Solar Panels
Solar panels help you save money on energy bills and cut down your need for fossil fuels. Their strong value comes from long use, better payback over time, and support for cleaner power through PV systems and renewable energy credits.
Lower Energy Costs
Electric bills can drop significantly with pv systems on your roof. Many houses cut costs right away by using energy from the sun instead of buying all power from the grid. In the Philippines, with its long peak sun hours, households save even more since they get plenty of sunlight each day.
Homeowners can realize additional savings via net metering by selling surplus power back to the utility provider or receiving renewable energy credits.
Meralco supports projects that make clean energy available by buying excess power sent back to the grid through net metering.
Eco-Friendly Energy Source
Solar panels provide clean energy as they never burn fuel; thus they do not emit harmful chemicals into the environment. Photovoltaic (PV) systems also reduce your carbon footprint by cutting the use of fossil fuels within the energy production mix.
Most PV solar panels are constructed using recyclable materials such as silicon crystals and glass. Once their average lifespan of your solar panel system has passed, certain components can be recycled or reused to further benefit the environment.
These renewable resources promote sustainability—minimizing pollution and conserving water in contrast to hydro power or coal plants.
Solar panel recycling also keeps waste low while increasing clean energy use worldwide.
Longevity and ROI
Eco-friendly energy gives peace of mind for the planet—long life and strong returns make it smart for your wallet, too.
This means you get many years of steady green energy at home.
Premium brands offer long warranty periods. Check with your solar panel installer regarding their warranty. Even after their peak, these panels can still provide about 90 percent of their original output—a solid return on investment (ROI).
How Many Solar Panels to Power a House
Monthly Energy Usage
Accurate monthly energy usage data matters. This information tells you how many solar panels you need to power your house. Our calculator below will give you a solar panel estimate and the savings it gives, but for a clearer understanding, we detailed how these numbers are arrived at.
Each solar panel has about 400-1000 watts (let us put this value at 500 watts). With peak sun hours in the Philippines at 5 hours, that means 500 watts per panel x 5 peak sun hours can produce about 2500 watts or 2,5 kilowatts daily per panel or 75 kwh per month per panel.
With each solar panel having an energy output of 75 kwh per month, if your monthly electricity consumption is 500kwh, divide that by the energy output of each solar panel, that means you will need between 7 solar panels for your house. The formula being: total monthly energy consumption / output per solar panel = number of solar panels needed
500 watts per panel x 5 peak sun hours = 2500 watts or 2.5 kilowatts per panel per day
Per month per panel: 2.5 kilowatts x 30 days = 75 kilowatts power per panel per month
These are rough estimates, and it is best to get a quote from solar panel installers as we only based it on 500 watts per panel.
Other sources also estimate this:
For those consuming 224 kwh per month, a 2kWp system with 5 solar panels will do.
For a house consuming about 450 kwh, 4kWp system with 10 panels will do
Solar Panel Price in the Philippines
The average price ranging from PHP12,000 to 20,000 per 500 watts panel as of 2024, you can derive an estimate, though this does not yet include the installation costs.
With a total investment of 300k to 500k for the average home, it may seem a huge price tag, but remember, this will serve you efficiently for about 2 decades or more (with little degradation after that) so, even a break-even point between 7-10 years is good!
Servicepros.ph allows you to get quotes from trusted installers according to your location.
Climate and Sun Exposure
Climate and sun exposure play key roles in solar panel output efficiency. Luckily here in the Philippines, we have more consistent solar power supply compared to other countries.
Output drops if clouds or extreme weather block the sun often. Adverse weather, like strong rain, can cause corrosion on solar inverters and electronics.
Fewer solar panels will cut installation costs, too.
Calculating this helps homeowners make smart choices about their monthly savings and sustainable energy use all year round.
Output Efficiency of Solar Panels
Solar panel output drops a little each year. This is normal—most panels lose about 0.25% to 0.8% of their power every year because of age and sunlight. Reusable energy sources that also cut your carbon-offset footprint long-term.
Solar Panel Installation Variables
Many things—roof type, house direction, and tilt of the panels—play a big role in how well solar power works at home… keep reading to see which factors could boost your savings.
Roof Material and Type
Different roof materials like metal, asphalt shingles, or clay tiles each affect solar panel installation. Metal roofs work best since they last long and handle extra weight easily.
Tile roofs need more skill and special brackets, which can raise costs. Some types of roofing may require added mounting hardware to keep panels secure.
Installers often check if your roof is strong enough before setup—this is key for both grid tied and off grid systems.
It also helps to know that clay-type roofs need extra waterproofing care compared to steel/flat roofs.
Roof material can impact how much labor you need and how fast your system gets done.
House Orientation
The orientation of a house affects how much sunlight solar panels can catch. In the Philippines, south-facing roofs get the most peak sun hours, which boosts output efficiency and helps cut grid tied costs.
A roof that faces east or west gets less direct sunlight, leading to lower energy harvest over time. Solar experts often suggest aiming panels toward true south for homes north of the equator.
A good orientation leads to more power and better savings each month. House angle ties in with roof tilt and angle next—both matter for getting top results from solar installation.
Roof Tilt and Angle
Roof tilt and angle control how much sunlight solar panels collect each day. A flat roof in the Philippines may catch fewer peak sun hours than one set at the best tilt for its spot on the map.
For many homes, a roof pitch/tilt anywhere between 10-40 degrees is good. This setting boosts output efficiency and helps manage rain runoff so dust does not build up fast.
Wrong angles lead to less power over time, which shrinks average monthly savings from grid-tied or off-grid systems. Also, steeper roofs may cost more, installation-wise.
It is key to assess these points before installing panels since making changes after costs more money and may shorten system’s life span due to repeat contraction of panel mounts over years.
Upkeep and Durability of Solar Panels
Regular cleaning and timely checks help keep solar modules working well—rain can help, but a simple rinse often does the trick.
Routine Maintenance and Inspections
Cleaning solar panels every few months keeps them functioning at their peak levels, particularly in areas with a lot of dust or leaves. In the Philippines, strong sun and storms can leave dirt behind—wiping this away helps keep power output steady during peak sun hours.
Inspections spot small issues before they grow. Checking for damaged wires or loose parts lowers the risk and cost later. Trimming plants that shade panels extends their life span, whether you use grid-tied or off-grid systems.
Follow the recommended maintenance of your solar panel provider and have them inspect your solar panels at least once a year.
Simple steps like these help homeowners get better returns and safe energy year after year.
Evaluating Solar Panel Worth
Smart homeowners weigh the price of solar panels against their future electric bill savings.
Balance of Costs and Benefits
Premium solar panels can seem expensive at first, but long warranties and low degradation, these panels keep giving good output for decades—helping you get more value over time.
Assessing the life cycle of your panels helps show long-term value—less money paid to utility companies means more back in your pocket.
Over time, this adds up as one of the smartest moves for home budgets and clean living.
Check our solar panel installers directory here.
Use of the Solar Panel Cost Savings Calculator
After understanding potential savings with solar, using a home energy savings calculator makes things clear and simple. You enter your monthly consumption, panels needed, the cost of the installation, and the projected savings to get the break-even point.
Here is a bit of explanation regarding this solar panel cost calculator.
We placed the average watts per panel at 500 watts.
Since solar panels work during daytime only (assuming it is sunny), we have put the daytime hours between 7 am to 5 pm, hence the maximum of 10 hours of sunlight.
Hence, 5 pm to 7 am is counted under nighttime use since sunlight is non-existent to weak at dusk or dawn.
Once you input your average daytime use, the rest of the unused daytime-generated power is sent back to the grid, and you receive credits that are deducted from your bill for more savings.
From the Total Savings generated, you can determine your break-even point after getting a quote from a solar panel installer in your area.
The advantage of using ServicePros is that you can get quotes from several solar panel installers neatly listed in your dashboard (once you create a Customer account), compare their work, see their portfolio, reviews, and more to make a solid decision.
Another way to get quotes is to post a job once you log into your customer account.
Check your solar panel needs and savings below!
The Verdict: Are Solar Panels Worth It?
Yes, solar panels give clean power for a long time—often 25 to 30 years, or more. Even beyond those years, they will still keep working, although with less output. Over the years, a small drop in how well they work is normal, but most still make good energy even after their warranty ends.
Taking care of them is simple; just keep them clean and check parts now and then. These steps can help you get more value from your home’s system while lowering bills and helping the planet.
Finally, with free renewable energy, you can enjoy even more comfort with the right air conditioner for your home. Check out our post on the right air conditioner for your needs (and it is not just about room size!).
FAQs
1. How long do solar panels last in the Philippines, considering peak sun hours?
Most solar panels work well for about 25 to 30 years. After this time, they can still generate energy, but will be about 80-90% of their original power.
2. Does being grid-tied or off grid affect how long my solar panels last?
No matter if your system is grid tied or off grid, the average life span of solar panels stays much the same—about 25 to 30 years. The main difference comes from how you care for them and local weather.
3. Will more peak sun hours in the Philippines wear out my solar panels faster?
Solar panels are built to handle lots of sunlight, so high peak sun hours in the Philippines will not shorten their average life span much.
4. What helps keep a grid tied or off grid system working longer?
Clean your panels regularly and check wires and parts every year—this keeps both grid tied and off grid systems running better through many years of use under Philippine sun conditions.
5. What happens if my solar panels produce more power than our house consumes?
Excess power generated by your solar panel can be fed back to the grid through net metering. Meralco buys back the excess power and you get credits for that to further lower your bill.
6. Can I still enjoy the solar power at night?
If your system has a battery included, yes, the excess power is stored and you can use it at night. However, most homes do not need them because most solar panel systems are still grid-tied; that is, the typical solar panel installation is still connected to the grid so you can draw energy from the grid at night or on cloudy days. Off-the-grid systems or systems using batteries are usually for remote or distant areas.