Solar power is essentially guilt-free energy: in a nutshell, you get power to run appliances while also helping the environment. The initial outlay may cost a pretty penny, but they could also help you save money over time.

It all sounds pretty good.

But how long will it take before your solar panels generate enough power to run your favourite devices? Will you need to wait for ages before you can run your next TV binge session just off solar?

Not all solar is created equal

Solar panel systems come in various sizes and outputs – the key number being the kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity that they will generate. On a clear sunny day, a 5kW solar system could generate around 2.5kWh of power per hour (based on a daily output of 20kWh broken down by 8 hours of sunlight).i

Of course, factors such as shade, the alignment of the solar panels to the trajectory of the sun, the season, clouds and hours of daylight can all have an impact on how much power your solar system will produce. Your location within Australia can also make a big difference; for example, solar panels in southern cities like Hobart, Melbourne and Adelaide typically produce less than systems in the other capitals.ii

This makes it difficult to say how long you need to run your solar panels to power your phone or computer, but we can get a rough idea.

parents watch TV while daughter is on laptop

Just one hour of sunlight is enough to power multiple devices

Using a hypothetical 5kW solar system on a sunny day as a starting point, it turns out that the 2.5kWh it can generate per hour can power multiple devices within that same hour.

So, in one hour you could:

  • stream TV shows for the full hour (e.g. Netflix, Disney+) = 0.120kWhiii
  • charge a smartphone for the full hour (based on a five-watt charger) = 0.005kWh
  • heat up a microwave meal (in a 1100-watt microwave) for two minutes = 0.036kWh
  • play on the latest gaming consoles for the full hour = 0.2kWhiv
  • grill a family feast for 30 minutes on a 2250-watt electric barbeque = 1.125kWh

The total power usage for all the above examples equates to 1.986kWh. So, even if you started bingeing a new series while charging your smartphone and playing video games as your family cooks dinner and heats up leftovers, the 2.5kWh generated by the solar system in one hour is more than enough to have you covered.

While a 5kW system can power multiple devices with just one hour of sunlight, systems do vary in size and there can be more power being used than we might see or think. This can include household appliances like hot water systems, lights, fridges and pool pumps, not to mention the many devices and appliances we might leave on standby power.

Note: the above calculations are based on an example scenario and might not match the way you use energy or the energy usage of your appliances. Devices and appliances may have differing kWh energy usage rates and might not be using their full capacity. The above scenario assumes these appliances are operating at full capacity for the time specified.

Solar systems may not always be enough to power a house for a day

Your solar system might not be big enough to cover your daily energy needs if you’re a heavy user. Additionally, if you use solar power as it’s generated you won’t be able to power your appliances once the sun goes down.

According to a survey by the CSIRO, single-person households use an average of 8kWh a day compared to 17kWh a day for families with kids.v Of course, your family may be heavy energy users and use close to 30kWh a day (or even more).

This means you’ll likely still need to use grid power.

If you can’t maximise usage while producing your own energy, having cheap usage and supply rates can reduce the cost of your electricity bills. You can compare energy plans from a range of retailers with ease using our free energy comparison service.

Want to learn more about solar power? Check out our guide here.

Sources

i Sizing your solar panel system. Chris Barnes, Choice. 2021.
ii Consumer guide to buying household solar panels (photovoltaic panels). Clean Energy Council. 2011.
iii The carbon footprint of streaming video: fact-checking the headlines. George Kamiya, International Energy Agency. 2020.
iv Latest Game Consoles: Environmental Winners or Losers? Noah Horowitz, Natural Resources Defense Council. 2021.
v Household types and energy use. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. 2018.