If you have already considered installing a photovoltaic system in your home, you have probably wondered about the price of solar panels for air conditioning in the Philippines.
I have prepared this article to clarify any doubts regarding the technology that will help reduce the value of your electricity bill and contribute to preserving the environment.
How does an air conditioner work?
Indispensable on hot days, air conditioners are responsible for bringing thermal comfort, helping to maintain the temperature of a room at the ideal level. The air conditioner has two connected coils with refrigerant flowing continuously from them. The coil inside the room is called the evaporator, and the one outside the room is the condenser.
There is no mystery as to the fundamental principle of this device: keep the evaporator cold at a temperature lower than that recorded in the environment, and the hot condenser, at a higher temperature. With these conditions, the continuously flowing fluid absorbs the local heat and ejects it to the ambient climate.
To achieve this goal, two more air conditioning components need to be activated: the compressor and an extension valve. The compressor increases the gas pressure and, consequently, its temperature. The heat exchanger of this component causes heat to be ejected. During this heat ejection phase, the gas is condensed into a liquid.
The expansion valve aims to restrict the flow of the fluid in question, reducing its pressure. Some of the liquid evaporates inside this compartment as the pressure drops. However, for this evaporation to occur, energy must be supplied to it. Such energy comes from within the refrigerant, causing its temperature to decrease.
The operation of the device may occur not only through conventional electrical energy but also through solar energy. For this, the solar energy kit for air conditioning is used.
How does the solar panel for air conditioning work?
The operation of the solar panel for air conditioning is simple. Its solar panels capture sunlight and transform it into photovoltaic solar energy. Such energy becomes suitable for consumption by operating a device called an inverter.
In the inverter, the generated direct electric current is converted into alternating current. In this way, it can be distributed to the place of consumption and used as solar energy for air conditioning.
This process occurs in on-grid solar energy kits with the inverter as a fundamental part. They are responsible for generating energy during the day and, at other times, receiving it from the distributor. In short, on-grid systems do not use energy storage.
The off-grid kit can generate energy without the system being connected to the electrical grid, allowing solar energy storage via solar batteries.
What is a solar energy kit for air conditioning?
The solar energy kit for air conditioning is the set of equipment for the production of energy through the capture of sunlight by the photovoltaic system. Among the leading equipment in the solar kit for air conditioning are solar panels, solar inverters, cables, and connectors.
The use of solar panels for air conditioning is capable of reducing CO2 emissions by up to 20 kg per year, in addition to generating profits in the form of energy credits to the network when not used ultimately, with a validity of 60 months, which also contributes to the consumer economy.
Types of solar power kits for air conditioning in the Philippines
There are two ways to install solar energy systems for air conditioning: the on-grid system (connected to the grid) or the off-grid solar energy system (autonomous).
Grid-connected photovoltaic system
A photovoltaic system connected to the grid (on-grid) is formed by a series of materials to convert solar energy into electricity, being inserted directly into the electrical grid.
Even so, it is considered the most effective way to use solar energy to power an air conditioner. Therefore, producing a large volume of energy from solar panels is possible on hot days. Also generated by the refrigeration device. With this, the device remains connected to the network providing energy. However, the distribution network will supply it on rainy days or at night.
Autonomous photovoltaic system
Meanwhile, in autonomous photovoltaic systems (off-grid), solar-powered air conditioning is used independently. This means that using batteries as a form of energy storage makes it possible to produce it as “self-sustenance.”
However, this option is more expensive than the on-grid system since there is no distribution network use, requiring other equipment such as batteries.
What is the energy consumption of an air conditioner?
Using an air conditioner in the Philippines can increase your energy bill by up to 50%. This is because an air conditioner running for hours in a home or commercial establishment consumes about 63% of the total energy.
Therefore, considering that a 1.02 kW air conditioner is in operation for at least 20 days a month and 8 hours, we can calculate its average consumption using the following formula:
20 days x 8 hours of consumption = 160 hours of consumption
Energy consumption = power x time
Power consumption = 1,020 (1.02 kW) x 160
Energy consumption = 162.97 kWh/month
How much does a solar energy kit for air conditioning cost in the Philippines?
The price of a solar energy kit for air conditioning varies according to the quality and quantity of equipment needed for installation, not to mention the quotation from the solar company in the Philippines. The value of the following materials must be calculated: batteries, solar panels, frequency inverter, and charge controller. But ideally, around 150k PHP.
Battery: the cost of your unit is approximately 15k PHP
Solar panel for air conditioning: the cost varies according to the quantity, efficiency, manufacturer, and place of manufacture. However, a 330 W photovoltaic solar panel is sold for an estimated 50k PHP (which may vary according to the dollar exchange rate);
Frequency inverter: can be found for at least 25k PHP;
Charge controller: its value is approximately 20k PHP in some stores.
How many solar panels for air conditioning are needed?
The amount of solar panels for air conditioning varies according to the model of the device, its efficiency, and installation area. However, 6 solar panels of 405W can be estimated to supply the energy of an air conditioner that consumes 241.64 kWh/month.
In addition, I can highlight that despite the high cost, this alternative energy source has many benefits, especially in regions with a lot of sunlight or that do not have access to the grid.
To facilitate the calculation and have more precision in the value of your project, you can access the solar calculator utterly free of charge. So, do the simulation now and start producing solar energy in your home, business, or industry.