5 kW Solar Power Plant in Kerala: Price, Subsidy & EV Charging

Overview

5 kW Solar Power Plant: What You Get

A 5 kW solar power plant is the ideal start for a home with one electric vehicle: it powers the house and the car. Nine to ten Tier-1 panels on about 500 sq ft of roof generate roughly 585 units a month, worth ₹4,095 at ₹7 a unit.

After the ₹78,000 PM Surya Ghar subsidy the plant costs about ₹2,37,000, recovers its cost in about 4.8 years and returns around 20.7% a year. Even with a 1.5 ton AC, all cooking on induction and the rest of the home (about 477 units), a 5 kW plant still leaves over 100 units a month spare.

Best for

Homes using 500–650 units a month
Bills of ₹3,500–₹5,000 a month
Homes with an electric car
AC + induction cooking + regular home load

Price, Subsidy & Savings

5 kW Solar Plant Cost and Payback Calculation

Every figure below is calculated for a 5 kW residential on-grid plant at Kerala’s average 3.9 units per kW per day and ₹7 a unit.

System capacity	5 kW on-grid (hybrid option available)
Solar panels	9–10 × 540–555 Wp Tier-1 mono PERC (TOPCon optional)
Roof area needed	~500 sq ft shadow-free
Generation	19.5 units/day · 585 units/month · 7,020 units/year
Electricity value	₹4,095 a month · ₹49,140 a year
Price before subsidy	₹3,15,000
PM Surya Ghar subsidy	₹78,000 (credited to your bank account after commissioning)
Price after subsidy	₹2,37,000
Payback period	4.8 years
Simple annual return	20.7%
5-year electricity value	₹2,45,700
25-year electricity value*	₹11,30,637
CO₂ avoided	~6.0 tonnes a year

* 25-year value assumes a flat ₹7/unit tariff (no increases) and 0.7% yearly panel degradation, so it is conservative. Prices are indicative catalogue figures, confirmed after a free site survey. Subsidy as per prevailing PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana norms. Not a guaranteed return.

Compare Home Solar Plant Sizes

System	Panels	Roof area	Units / month	Value / month	Subsidy	After subsidy	Payback
1 kW	2	~100 sq ft	117	₹819	₹30,000	On survey	—
2 kW	4	~200 sq ft	234	₹1,638	₹60,000	On survey	—
3 kW	6	~300 sq ft	351	₹2,457	₹78,000	₹1,22,000	4.1 yrs
5 kW	9–10	~500 sq ft	585	₹4,095	₹78,000	₹2,37,000	4.8 yrs
7 kW	13–14	~700 sq ft	819	₹5,733	₹78,000	₹3,62,000	5.3 yrs
10 kW	18–20	~1,000 sq ft	1,170	₹8,190	₹78,000	On survey	—

Monthly Energy Balance

How Far Do 585 Units Go?

Add an all-electric lifestyle one load at a time and see how much of a 5 kW plant’s monthly output is still left.

+ Lights, fans, fridge, TV, pump (250) 335 spare

+ 1.5 ton AC, 8 hours a day (134) 201 spare

+ All cooking on induction (93) 107 spare

+ Electric scooter, 1,000 km (26) 81 spare

+ Electric car, 1,500 km (250) 169 short

Monthly energy balance only, in units. Daytime solar used directly or exported is credited through net metering; evening and night use draws from the grid or a battery.

Solar + Your Lifestyle

What a 5 kW Solar Plant Can Power

A 5 kW plant generates about 585 units a month. Here is what that energy means for an electric car, an electric scooter, an air conditioner and your kitchen, worked out at ₹7 a unit.

Solar + Electric Car · Example: Tata Punch EV

Drive your EV on your own rooftop solar

Sunshine is the fuel. At 6 km per unit, 5 kW of solar is enough for about 3,510 km of driving a month if all of it went to the car. A typical owner driving 1,500 km a month uses about 250 units, 43% of this plant’s output.

3,510 kmEV driving a month from 5 kW*

₹231full charge of a 30 kWh battery at grid tariff

₹1.17/kmat grid tariff vs ₹7.13/km on petrol

₹1,07,400fuel saved a year driving 1,500 km/month

Solar system	3 kW	5 kW	7 kW
Monthly generation	351 units	585 units	819 units
EV driving per month*	2,106 km	3,510 km	4,914 km
Full charges / month (30 · 40 kWh)	10.6 · 8.0	17.7 · 13.3	24.8 · 18.6
Investment after subsidy	₹1,22,000	₹2,37,000	₹3,62,000
Annual electricity value	₹29,484	₹49,140	₹68,796
Payback period	4.1 years	4.8 years	5.3 years
Annual return	24.2%	20.7%	19.0%

5 kW is the ideal start for a home with one EV: solar power for the house and the car. With a hybrid system you can also charge at night from the battery.

* Theoretical figure if all solar power goes to the EV. Assumes 3.9 units/kW/day (Kerala average), ₹7/unit, 6 km per metered unit, 10% charging loss, petrol ₹107/litre at 15 km/l. An on-grid system cannot charge the car directly at night; net-metering rules apply. Confirm variant, range and price with the vehicle maker. Not a guaranteed return.

Solar + Electric Scooter · Example: Ather 450 series

Your daily ride, charged by the sun

Riding 1,000 km a month costs just ₹163–₹183 even at grid tariff. A 5 kW plant could fully charge a 2.9 kWh scooter about 183 times a month, so one scooter uses only 4% of its output.

₹22–₹27per full charge at ₹7/unit

₹0.16approx. cost per km

183full charges a month from 5 kW*

₹26,337saved a year vs a petrol scooter (1,000 km/month)

Model / battery	IDC range	Full charge	1,000 km / month	Charges / month from 5 kW*
Ather 450S · 2.9 kWh	122 km	₹22	₹183	183
Ather 450S · 3.5 kWh	161 km	₹27	₹167	152
Ather 450X · 2.9 kWh	126 km	₹22	₹177	183
Ather 450X · 3.5 kWh	161 km	₹27	₹167	152
Ather 450 Apex · 3.5 kWh	165 km	₹27	₹163	152

3 kW of solar is more than enough for one scooter; the rest powers your home and cuts your bill.

* Theoretical figure if all solar power goes to the scooter; excludes household use. Based on the maker’s published IDC range, 10% charging loss, ₹7/unit, petrol scooter at 45 km/l. Real-world range will be lower than IDC. Confirm variant, price and availability with the dealer.

Solar + Air Conditioner · 1.5 & 2 ton inverter AC

Beat the summer heat without the bill shock

The sun heats, solar cools. Running a 1.5 ton 3-star AC for 8 hours a day costs about ₹941 a month, and needs only 23% of a 5 kW plant’s output.

₹941/mo1.5 ton 3-star AC, 8 hours a day

23%of 5 kW output for one 1.5 ton AC*

₹3,024saved a year with a 2 ton 5-star vs 3-star

41.5 ton ACs this plant can run*

AC (8 hours/day)	Units / month	Cost / month	Cost / year	Share of 5 kW
1.5 ton · 3-star	134	₹941	₹11,290	23%
1.5 ton · 5-star	106	₹739	₹8,870	18%
2 ton · 3-star	192	₹1,344	₹16,128	33%
2 ton · 5-star	156	₹1,092	₹13,104	27%

Solar powers the AC directly while it runs in the daytime. A BEE 5-star inverter AC plus solar doubles the savings; set it to 24–26°C to save even more.

* 8 hours/day, 30 days/month; illustrative average input: 1.5 ton 3-star 0.56 kW, 5-star 0.44 kW; 2 ton 3-star 0.80 kW, 5-star 0.65 kW. Actual use varies with model, room size and temperature setting; check the annual kWh on the BEE label.

Solar + Induction Cooking · 14.2 kg LPG at ₹949

Cook with the sun, save on gas cylinders

One 14.2 kg cylinder equals roughly 138 units of induction cooking. Moving all your cooking to induction needs about 93 units a month, only 16% of a 5 kW plant, and avoids about ₹7,697 of LPG a year.

8 → 4cylinders a year when half the cooking moves to induction

₹7,697of LPG a year avoided with full induction

16%of 5 kW output covers all cooking

93 unitsa month for all cooking on induction

Cooking moved to induction	LPG cylinders / year	LPG cost / year	Induction units / month
0% (LPG only)	8.1	₹7,697	0
25%	6.1	₹5,773	23
50%	4.1	₹3,849	47
75%	2.0	₹1,924	70
100% (all induction)	0.0	₹0	93

No flame, no gas-leak worry and a cooler kitchen. Keep LPG as backup and every cylinder lasts longer.

One 14.2 kg cylinder every 45 days (₹949, Kottayam, 31.10.2026); 1 cylinder ≈ 138 induction units. On grid power induction costs about the same as LPG; savings come from cooking on daytime solar. Evening cooking on solar needs a hybrid system.

Solar Savings Calculator

Which Solar Plant Size Do You Need?

Tick what you run at home, pick a plant size, and see generation, savings, payback and whether the plant covers your loads. Figures use Kerala averages (3.9 units/kW/day, ₹7/unit).

1. What do you want to run on solar?

Lights, fans, fridge, TV, pump 250 units 1.5 ton AC, 8 hours a day 134 units Second 1.5 ton AC 134 units All cooking on induction 93 units Electric scooter, 1,000 km 26 units Electric car, 1,500 km 250 units

2. Any other monthly units? (from your KSEB bill)

0 units

3. Choose a plant size

Your 5 kW solar plant

0 units/month

worth ₹0 a month at ₹7/unit

Your selected load0 units
PM Surya Ghar subsidy₹0
Price after subsidyOn survey
Payback periodOn survey
Annual savings₹0
Roof area needed0 sq ft

Indicative estimates only. Prices are Emerald’s catalogue figures after subsidy for residential on-grid plants; 1, 2 and 10 kW plants are priced after a free site survey. Actual generation varies with location, shading and season; bill savings depend on KSEB tariff slabs and net-metering rules.

Solar PV Modules

Tier-1 Panels Built for Kerala’s Heat and Humidity

Cell technology	Monocrystalline, 144 half-cut cells
Module options	Mono PERC 540–555 Wp · TOPCon bifacial 575–590 Wp
Module efficiency	21% – 22.8%
Dimensions	2278 × 1134 × 30–35 mm (approx.)
Frame & glass	Anodised aluminium, 3.2 mm tempered AR glass
Junction box	IP68, 3 bypass diodes, MC4-compatible
Certifications	BIS / IEC 61215, IEC 61730, ALMM listed
Warranty	12-year product · 25–30-year linear performance

Brand and wattage are confirmed at the time of quotation based on availability and site design. See also our solar panel product page.

How We Work

From Survey to Sunshine in 5 Steps

Complete, ready-to-install systems. We handle the engineering, the KSEB paperwork and the subsidy, so going solar is simple.

Tier-1 ALMM-listed solar modules
Grid-tie / hybrid inverter with app monitoring
Hot-dip galvanised mounting structure
Earthing & lightning arrester
ACDB / DCDB with surge protection
UV-resistant DC & AC cabling
KSEB feasibility & net-meter paperwork
PM Surya Ghar subsidy application support
Installation, commissioning & handover

1Free site surveyRoof, shading and load assessment by our engineers.
2Design & quoteRight-sized system, transparent pricing and a savings estimate.
3ApprovalsKSEB feasibility, net-metering and subsidy paperwork.
4InstallationNeat, safe installation by trained technicians.
5CommissioningNet meter live, handover and app-based monitoring.

Emerald Care

After-Sales Support That Keeps Output at Its Peak

Performance monitoring: remote tracking of generation through the inverter app.
Preventive maintenance: scheduled health checks of modules, wiring and earthing.
Panel cleaning: professional cleaning on request or under AMC.
Warranty support: we handle manufacturer claims on your behalf.

Solar Power Plant FAQs

5 kW Solar Plant FAQs

All FAQs

01.

What is the cost of a 5 kW solar power plant in Kerala?

About ₹3,15,000 before subsidy and about ₹2,37,000 after the ₹78,000 PM Surya Ghar subsidy for a residential on-grid plant. The exact price is confirmed after a free site survey.

03.

Can I charge an electric car with a 5 kW solar plant?

Yes. 585 units a month is enough for up to about 3,500 km of EV driving if all of it went to the car. A typical owner driving 1,500 km a month needs about 250 units, leaving roughly 335 units for the home.

05.

How much roof area is needed for 5 kW?

About 500 sq ft of shadow-free roof for 9–10 panels. TOPCon bifacial panels (575–590 Wp) can reduce the panel count where roof space is tight.

07.

How much subsidy is available for rooftop solar under PM Surya Ghar?

For residential grid-connected rooftop solar, the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana gives ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹18,000 for the third kW, capped at ₹78,000. So 1 kW gets ₹30,000, 2 kW gets ₹60,000 and 3 kW or more gets ₹78,000. The subsidy is credited to your bank account after commissioning and inspection, as per prevailing government norms.

09.

How many units does 1 kW of solar generate in Kerala?

About 3.9–4 units a day on average, or roughly 117–120 units a month and 1,400 units a year. Generation is highest from January to May and lower during the monsoon; the annual average already accounts for cloudy and rainy days.

11.

What is the payback period of rooftop solar?

At ₹7 a unit, residential plants pay back in about 4.1 years (3 kW), 4.8 years (5 kW) and 5.3 years (7 kW), equal to a simple annual return of 19–24%. Panels carry a 25–30-year performance warranty, so you enjoy 20 or more years of near-free power after payback. Commercial plants typically pay back in 3–5 years with accelerated depreciation.

02.

How many units does a 5 kW solar system generate?

Around 19.5 units a day, 585 units a month and roughly 7,000 units a year in Kerala conditions.

04.

Is a 5 kW plant on-grid or hybrid?

Both are available. On-grid gives the lowest cost and fastest payback but switches off during power cuts. A 5 kVA hybrid with 7.5–10 kWh of battery keeps an AC, mixer, iron and essentials running through outages and lets you charge an EV at night from stored solar.

06.

How much does a rooftop solar power plant cost in Kerala?

Indicative Emerald prices for residential on-grid plants after the ₹78,000 PM Surya Ghar subsidy are about ₹1,22,000 for 3 kW, ₹2,37,000 for 5 kW and ₹3,62,000 for 7 kW. Prices include panels, inverter, galvanised structure, earthing, lightning arrester, ACDB/DCDB, cabling, net-meter liaison and commissioning. Hybrid and off-grid systems cost more because of the battery. The final price is confirmed after a free site survey.

08.

What size solar power plant do I need for my home?

Check the units on your last few KSEB bills and divide the monthly average by about 117 (what 1 kW generates in a month in Kerala). A home using 350 units a month needs about 3 kW; 585 units needs 5 kW. Add about 2 kW if you plan to buy an electric car. Use the calculator on this page or book a free site survey for an exact size.

10.

Which is better: on-grid, off-grid or hybrid solar?

On-grid is the cheapest, pays back fastest and gets the subsidy, but it switches off during power cuts. Off-grid runs entirely on batteries and suits sites without a reliable grid. Hybrid combines net metering with a battery, so it saves money and keeps your home running through outages. Most Kerala homes with a stable supply choose on-grid; homes with frequent outages or an EV choose hybrid.

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5 kW Solar Power Plant for Homes with an EV