The battery decides how long your power lasts at night. The two most common sizes we install are 5kWh and 10kWh.
Usable power
Lithium batteries let you use most of their power, but not all. Plan on about 85 to 90%.
| Battery | Usable (about) |
|---|---|
| 5kWh | 4 to 4.5kWh |
| 10kWh | 8 to 9kWh |
How long each lasts
| Night load | 5kWh battery | 10kWh battery |
|---|---|---|
| 300W (lights, fans, TV) | About 14 hours | About 28 hours |
| 500W (add fridge, Wi-Fi) | About 8 to 9 hours | About 16 to 18 hours |
| 1,200W (add 1.5HP inverter AC) | About 3.5 hours | About 7 hours |
Who needs 5kWh
- Flats and bungalows with no AC at night
- Shops that close at night but keep a freezer
Who needs 10kWh
- Homes that run an AC at night
- Homes with a freezer and lots of evening use
- People who want backup on cloudy rainy-season days
The cost
Lithium storage costs roughly ₦220,000 per kWh in our installed systems. So going from 5kWh to 10kWh adds about ₦1.1M. That is why we size the battery carefully. Read lithium battery price in Nigeria.
Tip: buy for the night, not the day
In the day, panels run your home. The battery is only for night and cloudy hours. List what you use after 6pm. That tells you your battery size. Use the calculator.
