Size Your System
All calculations run in your browser. No data is sent to any server or stored anywhere.
Your Location
Solar conditions vary 15–20% across Zimbabwe. Select your nearest town for accurate sizing.
System Type
Hybrid uses the grid as a safety net and sizes for average conditions. Off-Grid assumes no grid at all and sizes for the worst month.
Uses the annual average peak sun hours for Harare. The grid covers shortfalls during low-production winter months, so we size panels for typical output, not the worst case.
Your Monthly Electricity Usage
Enter from your electricity token receipt, prepaid meter reading, or monthly bill
≈ 12 kWh/day
≈ $63.60/month
Quick select:
Your Recommendations
Essential Backup
LED lights, phone charging, Wi-Fi router, TV, decoder, and a small fridge. Keeps the basics running during load shedding.
4.7kWh/day
1.5kVA (~1.2kW) Inverter
Must, Growatt, or Deye
2× 48V 100Ah LiFePO4
9.6 kWh total · 7.3 kWh usable
2× 545W Mono (Jinko/Longi)
1.09 kWp total · 6.4 PSH
Overnight Battery
1 night on battery, grid fills the rest
Can this system run…
Estimated Cost
$1,400 — $2,600
USD including installation
Essential Backup
LED lights, phone charging, Wi-Fi router, TV, decoder, and a small fridge. Keeps the basics running during load shedding.
4.7kWh/day
1.5kVA (~1.2kW) Inverter
Must, Growatt, or Deye
2× 48V 100Ah LiFePO4
9.6 kWh total · 7.3 kWh usable
2× 545W Mono (Jinko/Longi)
1.09 kWp total · 6.4 PSH
Overnight Battery
1 night on battery, grid fills the rest
Can this system run…
Estimated Cost
$1,400 — $2,600
USD including installation
Full Load
Covers your full electricity consumption — microwave, iron (scheduled at midday), washing machine, home office, and more.
11.7kWh/day
3kVA (~2.4kW) Inverter
Must, Growatt, or Deye
4× 48V 100Ah LiFePO4
19.2 kWh total · 14.6 kWh usable
5× 545W Mono (Jinko/Longi)
2.73 kWp total · 6.4 PSH
Overnight Battery
1 night on battery, grid fills the rest
Can this system run…
Estimated Cost
$2,700 — $4,500
USD including installation
Future-Proof
50% headroom above your current usage. Add a borehole pump, second freezer, or workshop tools later without upgrading.
17.5kWh/day
5kVA (~4kW) Inverter
Must, Growatt, or Deye
6× 48V 100Ah LiFePO4
28.8 kWh total · 21.9 kWh usable
7× 545W Mono (Jinko/Longi)
3.82 kWp total · 6.4 PSH
Overnight Battery
1 night on battery, grid fills the rest
Can this system run…
Estimated Cost
$3,800 — $6,400
USD including installation
These recommendations assume:
Estimates only — final design requires a site assessment.
Tariffs: Dec 2023 · Pricing: Q1 2025
Return on Investment
Projected payback period and lifetime savings over 25 years
Essential Backup
~$2,000 pays back in 5.9 yrs
Saves $23,947 over 25 yrs
Payback
5.9 yrs
System cost
$2.0k
25-yr savings
$24k
Battery replace
Yr 12
$540
Cumulative savings vs system cost
Key assumptions used in this projection:
Estimates only — final design requires a site assessment.
Tariffs: Dec 2023 · Pricing: Q1 2025
Reduce Your System Size
These changes can dramatically shrink (and cheapen) the solar system you need
Electric stoves and kettles draw 2–3 kW each. Switching to LPG eliminates your biggest battery drain and can reduce system size by 30–50%.
Electric geysers draw 2–3 kW for 2+ hours daily. A solar thermal geyser or heat pump removes this load entirely.
Running the pump 10AM–2PM means it draws from live solar production rather than stored battery energy.
Motor startup surges
Borehole pumps surge to 3–5× rated watts on startup. Ensure your inverter's peak rating handles motor starting current.
Heating element limits
Standard inverters up to 5 kVA cannot safely run heating elements (electric stove, geyser element, kettle) continuously. For heavy heating loads, an 8–10 kVA inverter is required. Gas cooking and solar thermal geysers are strongly recommended.
More Tips
Small changes in when and how you use power make a big difference