How to Power Your Home Day and Night with Solar Energy: A Complete Guide

Have you ever imagined that your home or agricultural project could run 24 hours a day without paying a single electricity bill? Yes, it's absolutely possible with solar energy if you plan your system smartly. In this article, we'll show you how to generate 20 kWh of electricity per day and store half of it for nighttime use, along with the total expected cost in USD and what this system can power.

☀️ Generating 20 kWh Per Day: How Many Solar Panels Do You Need?

In most North African regions, we get around 5 effective sunlight hours per day. So, to produce 20,000 watt-hours (20 kWh) per day, you’ll need a solar system rated at 4,000 watts (4 kW).

A practical solution would be to install 10 solar panels, each rated at 400 watts.

The cost of one good-quality solar panel ranges between $150 and $180, meaning the total cost for panels is approximately $1,600.

🔋 Storing Energy for Nighttime Use

Since you’ll need about 10 kWh at night, you must store this amount in batteries. Considering energy losses during charging and discharging, you should store at least 12,500 watt-hours.

Using a 48-volt system, you'll need batteries with at least 260 amp-hours of storage. The ideal setup would be 3 lithium batteries, each 48V and 100Ah.

Each lithium battery costs around $1,000, so the total battery cost is roughly $3,000.

⚙️ Other Essential Components

You will also need an MPPT charge controller with at least 60A capacity. Estimated cost: $400.

Next, you need an inverter to convert 48V DC (direct current) into 220V AC (alternating current) for home appliances. A quality inverter costs about $750.

Lastly, you'll need wiring, safety protections, mounting structures, and installation labor — which may total around $600.

💰 Total Estimated Cost

Here’s a breakdown of the complete solar system cost:

Solar panels: $1,600

MPPT charge controller: $400

Inverter: $750

Lithium batteries: $3,000

Wiring, protections, mounting & labor: $600

That brings the total investment for a full solar system capable of producing 20 kWh daily (with 10 kWh available at night) to about $6,350.

⚡ What Can You Power with 20 kWh Per Day?

You may be wondering: is 20 kWh enough for a typical home? The answer is yes — and even more! Here’s what you can typically run on 20 kWh per day:

A refrigerator running 24/7 (1.5 kWh/day)

A washing machine (1 cycle/day = 1.2 kWh)

A LED TV for 6 hours (0.5 kWh)

Full house LED lighting (0.8 kWh/day)

Charging phones, laptops, electronics (0.5 kWh)

Iron, blender, vacuum cleaner (around 1 kWh)

Water pump (1.5 kWh/day)

Electric water heater (3–4 kWh/day)

A small air conditioner or a strong fan (1–2 kWh)

Internet router + computer + small appliances

With smart energy management, this system can comfortably support a small to medium-sized family with room for expansion later.

🏡 Who Is This System For?

This system is ideal for anyone who:

Lives in a sunny region

Wants to eliminate electricity bills

Seeks an independent, clean energy solution

Manages an off-grid farm, workshop, or remote home

🧠 Final Thoughts

With a one-time investment of around $6,350, you can say goodbye to electric bills and enjoy a stable, clean energy source  day and night.