How to Size a Solar System for Your Farm

Choosing the right solar system for a farm comes down to how much power you use each day and what you need to run. Here is how to estimate it step by step.

1. List your loads

Write down every appliance you want to power. Common farm loads include water pumps, lighting, fridges, egg incubators, milking machines and power tools. Note the wattage of each — it is printed on the appliance label.

2. Estimate daily energy use

Multiply each appliance’s watts by the hours it runs per day, then add everything together. For example, a 100 W pump running 5 hours uses 500 Wh (watt-hours) a day.

3. Add a buffer

Add 25–30% to cover losses in the inverter, wiring and battery, and cloudy days. This gives you the total daily energy your system must produce.

4. Choose the components

Your daily energy figure determines the size of the solar array, the inverter rating and the battery storage. As a rough guide, the panel array should generate your total daily energy in about 4–5 peak sun hours, which is typical for most parts of Kenya.

5. Match the battery to your night use

The battery bank should cover the energy you use after sunset plus a reserve for cloudy weather.

Get a proper quote

For a precise system, share your appliance list and daily run hours with our team. We will size the panels, inverter and batteries for your farm and give you a clear quote.