Introduction

One of the most common questions business owners ask is:

“How much solar do I need for my business?”

The truth is — every business is different.
Your solar needs depend on:
✔ your load
✔ working hours
✔ type of appliances
✔ business activity
✔ budget
✔ night vs daytime usage

A proper solar sizing prevents:
❌ fast battery drain
❌ inverter tripping
❌ low solar performance
❌ wasted money
❌ unstable power

In this full guide, Solarzone Nigeria explains exactly how to determine the right solar size for your business.

⭐ 1️⃣ Step 1: Identify Your Business Load (Wattage / kW)

List every appliance used in your business and their wattages.

Example Load Calculation:

• 2 HP AC = 1500W

• 1 HP AC = 750W

• Freezer = 150W

• Display chiller = 300W

• 5 laptops = 250W

• Printer = 100W

• Lights = 100W

• Router = 20W

Total = 3170W ≈ 3.2kW

BUT this is just the running load — you must also include starting load.

⭐ 2️⃣ Step 2: Consider Peak Load & Surge Power

Many appliances (especially ACs and refrigerators) require 2–3× more power when starting.

Example:

• 1.5HP AC (1500W running) = 3000W starting

To size correctly, Solarzone calculates both:
✔ continuous load
✔ startup surge load

This prevents inverter overload.

⭐ 3️⃣ Step 3: Choose the Right Inverter Size

Below is a simple guide:

✔ Small Business

Load: 1kW–3kW
Recommended inverter: 3.5kVA – 5kVA

✔ Medium Business

Load: 3kW–7kW
Recommended inverter: 5kVA – 10kVA

✔ Large Business

Load: 7kW–15kW
Recommended inverter: 10kVA – 20kVA hybrid

✔ Industrial / Factories

Load: 15kW – 200kW
Recommended inverter:
20kVA – 250kVA (three-phase industrial systems)

Solarzone uses hybrid inverters for all commercial clients.

⭐ 4️⃣ Step 4: Choose the Right Battery Size

This is where many businesses make mistakes.

Battery capacity depends on:
✔ hours of backup needed
✔ night vs daytime load
✔ AC vs non-AC usage

🔋 Basic Battery Sizing Guide:

✔ Light Commercial Use

4–8 hours backup
➡ 48V 200Ah – 400Ah lithium

✔ Medium Commercial Use

8–12 hours backup
➡ 48V 600Ah – 800Ah lithium

✔ Heavy Commercial Use

Cold rooms, hotels, malls
➡ 48V 1000Ah – 1500Ah lithium

✔ Industrial

Factories, large cold rooms
➡ 48V 2000Ah – 5000Ah lithium

Lithium is recommended for all commercial installations because:
✔ long lifespan
✔ huge discharge current
✔ supports heavy machinery
✔ charges very fast

⭐ 5️⃣ Step 5: Choose the Right Number of Solar Panels

Solar panels determine how fast batteries charge and how much load solar can carry.

Panel wattages: 450W – 600W (recommended for business use)

✔ Panel Sizing Guide:

(use 550W panels for calculation)

Small business

6 – 12 panels
(3–6kW solar)

Medium business

12 – 24 panels
(6–13kW solar)

Large business

24 – 60 panels
(13–33kW solar)

Industrial facility

60 – 400+ panels
(33kW – 200kW solar)

Solarzone sizes systems based on accurate load & available sunlight.

⭐ 6️⃣ Step 6: Determine Solar vs PHCN vs Generator Balance

A good hybrid system allows:

✔ solar to power day
✔ lithium to power night
✔ PHCN as backup
✔ generator as emergency

Solarzone configures smart switching to reduce:
✔ diesel
✔ PHCN bills
✔ generator runtime

Most clients reduce generator use by 50–95%.

⭐ 7️⃣ Example Solar Sizing for Different Businesses

Below are common scenarios handled by Solarzone.

🛒 Example 1: Small Supermarket

Load: freezers, display chillers, AC, lights
👉 Recommended System:

• 10kVA inverter

• 48V 400Ah–600Ah lithium

• 12–20 solar panels (550W)

🍽 Example 2: Restaurant

Load: AC, freezer, blender, POS, lighting
👉 Recommended System:

• 10kVA hybrid inverter

• 48V 600Ah lithium

• 20 panels

🎓 Example 3: School

Load: lights, fans, computers, office
👉 Recommended System:

• 5kVA–10kVA

• 48V 400Ah

• 10–16 panels

🏨 Example 4: Hotel

Load: multiple ACs, fridge, lights, ironing
👉 Recommended System:

• 20kVA

• 48V 1000Ah

• 24–40 panels

🧊 Example 5: Cold Room

Load: 5HP–10HP compressor
👉 Recommended System:

• 20kVA–40kVA

• 48V 1500Ah–2500Ah

• 30–60 panels

🏭 Example 6: Factory

Load: machinery, compressors, motors
👉 Recommended System:

• 30kVA–100kVA three-phase

• Lithium battery bank

• 60–200 panels

⭐ 8️⃣ Why You Should Never Guess Your Solar Size

Incorrect sizing leads to:
❌ inverter shutdown
❌ battery damage
❌ wasted solar power
❌ poor system performance
❌ generator overuse

Solarzone uses:
✔ engineering tools
✔ industrial load meters
✔ site inspection
✔ sunlight measurement
✔ roof/ground layout assessment

To size your system perfectly.

⭐ Why Businesses Choose Solarzone for Solar Sizing & Installation

Solarzone provides:

⭐ Professional load calculation
⭐ Commercial energy audits
⭐ Lithium battery integration
⭐ Hybrid inverter setup
⭐ Industrial solar design
⭐ Reliable installation
⭐ Full wiring & protection
⭐ After-sales support
⭐ Nationwide deployment

We ensure your system works perfectly for your exact business needs.

🏁 Final Thoughts

Your solar system is only as good as its sizing.

With the right solar size:

✔ your batteries last longer
✔ your inverter never trips
✔ your generator stays off
✔ your power becomes stable
✔ your business saves money
✔ your productivity increases

Let Solarzone Nigeria size your solar system accurately for long-term performance.

💥 Call to Action

⚡ Want to know the exact solar size your business needs?
Contact Solarzone Nigeria today for a professional load assessment.

📞 Call/WhatsApp: 09091394722