Running an AC on solar: the sizing nobody explains
The short answer
Yes — but not the way ads imply. A 1.5-ton AC consumes 1–1.5 units per hour; a 3 kW system generates ~15 units on a sunny day. With net metering, a 3 kW system offsets one AC's summer consumption for a typical family. Running an AC directly on panels in real-time would need a far bigger array plus batteries — net metering is what makes it affordable.
- recommended size
- 3 kW
- recommended size
- net cost after subsidy
- ₹96,000
- net cost after subsidy
- generated per month
- 354 units
- generated per month
- typical payback
- 3 yrs
- typical payback
Why 3 kW: because net metering lets daytime generation repay night-time AC use — the AC doesn't run 'on solar', the household's monthly units balance out.
What it runs: one 1.5-ton AC for reasonable summer hours (6–8 hrs/day), plus the normal household load — balanced monthly via the grid.
Roof needed: roughly 270–300 sq ft of shadow-free space.
Worth knowing: The trap to avoid: an installer sizing a 5–6 kW system because 'you have an AC' when your annual units say 3 kW. Check the bill, then the summer bill, then size.
Subsidy: ₹78,000 under PM Surya Ghar (₹30,000/kW up to 2 kW, capped at ₹78,000 for 3 kW+, residential connections only) — credited after your DISCOM commissions the system.
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Open the calculatorFAQ
Does the AC run directly on solar panels?
Not literally — panels don't produce at night when the AC often runs. The system exports surplus units by day and draws from the grid at night; over the month, the units balance. That's what net metering is for.
What if we run the AC all day and night?
Then size up — a 1.5-ton AC at 10 hours/day adds ~400 units a month. The calculator with your actual summer bill gives the honest number; expect 4–5 kW for heavy AC use.
Inverter ACs vs normal ACs on solar?
Inverter ACs consume 30–40% less for the same cooling, which means a smaller (cheaper) solar system covers them. If you're buying an AC anyway, the inverter type is the solar-friendly choice.
What are the exact numbers for MY bill and MY state?
These figures use the national-average tariff. Your state's tariff and generation numbers — and your exact bill — are on the calculator and your state's page. The maths is identical; only the local rates change.
City-level numbers
Tariffs vary by state — these pages carry your local DISCOM rates and exact cost tables: