8kW
Perfect for High Energy Consumption Households
An 8kW solar system is perfect for larger homes in Adelaide with high daily energy consumption. If your household uses between 25-35kWh per day, this system can meet your needs, especially if you can shift more energy use to daylight hours when your system is generating the most electricity.
Maximising Self-Consumption
The key to solar savings is using as much of your generated power as possible. With feed-in tariffs now as low as $0.05 per kWh, exporting excess energy isn’t as profitable as it used to be. By using the electricity during the day for appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, and pool pumps, you can maximise the return on your investment and cut down grid reliance.
Customised for Your Energy Use Patterns
The 8kW solar system can be optimised for households with low, medium, or high daytime energy consumption. Below are detailed savings scenarios based on different energy usage patterns, showing how much you could save with this system.
Savings Scenario for an 8kW Solar System
Let’s break down the potential savings for homes in Adelaide with low, medium, and high daytime consumption. We’ll assume grid electricity costs $0.40 per kWh and the feed-in tariff is $0.05 per kWh. Below are the best average daily consumption figures for each usage scenario.
Scenario 1: Low Daytime Consumption (30% Daytime / 70% Night-Time)
Ideal Average Daily Consumption: 30-35kWh/day
For households using 30-35kWh per day with low daytime energy consumption, this system can cover a good portion of your needs during the day, while exporting a significant amount of excess energy to the grid.
1. Without Solar (100% Grid Electricity)
- Daily Electricity Usage: 35kWh
- Cost per Day: 35kWh x $0.40 = $14.00/day
- Annual Cost: $14.00 x 365 = $5,110/year
2. 8kW Solar System (Low Daytime Consumption)
- Solar Generation: An 8kW system generates approximately 32-36kWh per day on average in Adelaide.
- Daytime Self-Consumption (30%): 30% of 35kWh = 10.5kWh/day (covered by solar)
- Excess Exported to Grid (70%): 21.5-25.5kWh/day exported at $0.05 = $1.08-1.28/day
- Savings from Self-Consumption: 10.5kWh x $0.40 = $4.20/day
- Feed-In Tariff Earnings: $1.08-1.28/day
- Total Daily Savings: $4.20 + $1.18 = $5.38/day
- Annual Savings: $5.38 x 365 = $1,963.70/year
Shifting Energy to Daytime
If you shift more energy to daytime hours, such as using 40% of your energy during the day, your savings increase:
- Daytime Self-Consumption (40%): 40% of 35kWh = 14kWh/day
- Savings from Self-Consumption: 14kWh x $0.40 = $5.60/day
- Annual Savings: $5.60 x 365 = $2,044/year
Scenario 2: Medium Daytime Consumption (50% Daytime / 50% Night-Time)
Ideal Average Daily Consumption: 25-30kWh/day
For homes that consume 25-30kWh per day with 50% of energy use during the day and 50% at night, the 8kW solar system can substantially reduce your grid electricity costs.
1. Without Solar (100% Grid Electricity)
- Daily Electricity Usage: 30kWh
- Cost per Day: 30kWh x $0.40 = $12.00/day
- Annual Cost: $12.00 x 365 = $4,380/year
2. 8kW Solar System (Medium Daytime Consumption)
- Solar Generation: 32-36kWh per day
- Daytime Self-Consumption (50%): 50% of 30kWh = 15kWh/day (covered by solar)
- Excess Exported to Grid (50%): 17-21kWh/day exported at $0.05 = $0.85-1.05/day
- Savings from Self-Consumption: 15kWh x $0.40 = $6.00/day
- Feed-In Tariff Earnings: $0.85-1.05/day
- Total Daily Savings: $6.00 + $0.95 = $6.95/day
- Annual Savings: $6.95 x 365 = $2,536.75/year
Shifting More Usage to Daytime
If you shift more energy use to the daytime (e.g., to 60% daytime consumption), your savings increase:
- Daytime Self-Consumption (60%): 60% of 30kWh = 18kWh/day
- Savings from Self-Consumption: 18kWh x $0.40 = $7.20/day
- Annual Savings: $7.20 x 365 = $2,628/year
Scenario 3: High Daytime Consumption (80% Daytime / 20% Night-Time)
Ideal Average Daily Consumption: 20-25kWh/day
For households using 20-25kWh per day with high daytime energy consumption (80% of energy consumed during the day), an 8kW system can cover nearly all of your daytime energy needs, resulting in significant savings.
1. Without Solar (100% Grid Electricity)
- Daily Electricity Usage: 25kWh
- Cost per Day: 25kWh x $0.40 = $10.00/day
- Annual Cost: $10.00 x 365 = $3,650/year
2. 8kW Solar System (High Daytime Consumption)
- Solar Generation: 32-36kWh/day
- Daytime Self-Consumption (80%): 80% of 25kWh = 20kWh/day (covered by solar)
- Excess Exported to Grid (20%): ~12-16kWh/day exported at $0.05 = $0.60-0.80/day
- Savings from Self-Consumption: 20kWh x $0.40 = $8.00/day
- Feed-In Tariff Earnings: $0.60-0.80/day
- Total Daily Savings: $8.00 + $0.70 = $8.70/day
- Annual Savings: $8.70 x 365 = $3,175.50/year
Maximising Daytime Usage
If your home can shift even more usage to daytime, such as 90% daytime consumption, your savings improve further:
- Daytime Self-Consumption (90%): 90% of 25kWh = 22.5kWh/day
- Savings from Self-Consumption: 22.5kWh x $0.40 = $9.00/day
- Annual Savings: $9.00 x 365 = $3,285/year
Total Benefit Over Grid-Only Use:
- Low Daytime Consumption (30-35kWh): $1,963.70/year saved
- Medium Daytime Consumption (25-30kWh): $2,536.75/year saved
- High Daytime Consumption (20-25kWh): $3,175.50/year saved
An 8kW solar system offers significant savings across various usage patterns. By shifting more of your energy usage to daytime hours, households with high daytime energy consumption can save up to $3,175.50 per year, while those with medium or low daytime usage still enjoy substantial savings.
Find the Perfect Solar Solution for Your Home
To discover how much an 8kW solar system can help you save based on your unique energy consumption patterns, try our AI Home Energy Analyser. It provides a tailored recommendation to maximise your solar savings.
Click here to get your free, personalised solar quote.