Solar Installation Survey and Load Calculation – Village Survey Report

1. Introduction

A village survey for solar installation is conducted to assess the electricity requirements of households, identify suitable locations for solar panels, and estimate the capacity of a solar power system. The survey helps determine the number of solar panels, battery capacity, inverter rating, and overall system requirements.

2. Objectives of the Survey

• To collect information about electricity consumption in the village.
• To identify households suitable for solar installation.
• To calculate the daily electrical load of each household.
• To estimate the required solar panel capacity.
• To assess rooftop space, sunlight availability, and shading conditions.
• To promote renewable energy and reduce dependence on conventional electricity.

3. Village Survey Data

The following is a sample survey table. Replace the figures with actual field survey data.

Sr. No.	Survey parameter	Sample data
1	Name of village	__________
2	Taluka and district	__________
3	Total households surveyed	50
4	Households with electricity	45
5	Households without electricity	5
6	Average daily electricity supply	18–24 hours
7	Households suitable for rooftop solar	35
8	Average monthly electricity bill	₹500–₹1,000
9	Available installation area	Rooftops / open land
10	Main energy requirement	Lighting, fans, TV, mobile charging

4. Household Electrical Load Survey

A typical household’s electrical appliances and their estimated energy consumption are shown below.

Appliance	Quantity	Power per unit	Daily use	Energy per day
LED bulbs	4	9 W	5 hours	180 Wh
Ceiling fans	2	60 W	8 hours	960 Wh
Television	1	80 W	4 hours	320 Wh
Mobile chargers	2	10 W	3 hours	60 Wh
Refrigerator	1	150 W	8 equivalent hours	1,200 Wh
Total				2,720 Wh/day

Note: Refrigerator consumption is an illustrative estimate based on equivalent running hours. Actual energy use should be measured or obtained from the appliance’s energy label.

5. Load Calculation

A. Connected load

Connected load is calculated by multiplying the quantity of each appliance by its rated power.

$$\text{Connected Load}=\sum(Q \times P)$$

For the sample household:

• LED bulbs: $4 \times 9 = 36\,W$
• Fans: $2 \times 60 = 120\,W$
• Television: $1 \times 80 = 80\,W$
• Mobile chargers: $2 \times 10 = 20\,W$
• Refrigerator: $1 \times 150 = 150\,W$

$$\text{Total Load}=36+120+80+20+150$$

$$\boxed{\text{Connected Load}=406\,W}$$

B. Daily energy consumption

$$E=\frac{P \times t \times Q}{1000}$$

Where:

• $E$ = daily energy consumption in kWh
• $P$ = appliance power in watts
• $t$ = daily usage in hours
• $Q$ = number of appliances

For the sample household:

$$E=0.18+0.96+0.32+0.06+1.20$$

$$\boxed{E=2.72\text{ kWh/day}}$$

Therefore, the estimated daily electricity requirement is 2.72 units per day.

6. Solar System Capacity Calculation

Assume the household requires 2.72 kWh/day, receives 5 equivalent peak-sun hours per day, and the overall solar-system performance ratio is 0.75.

$$\text{Solar Capacity}= \frac{\text{Daily Energy}}{\text{Sun Hours}\times\text{Performance Ratio}}$$

$$=\frac{2.72}{5\times0.75} =0.725\text{ kW}$$

The calculated minimum is approximately 0.73 kW. A 1 kWp solar system is a reasonable preliminary option for further assessment, subject to seasonal sunlight, shading, roof orientation, actual energy use, and backup requirements.

7. Battery and Inverter Sizing

For a preliminary off-grid system, assume one day of battery autonomy and a 48 V battery bank.

• Daily energy requirement: 2.72 kWh
• Assumed inverter efficiency: 90%
• Assumed battery depth of discharge: 80%

Required nominal battery energy:

$$\frac{2.72}{0.90\times0.80} =3.78\text{ kWh}$$

At 48 V:

$$\text{Battery Capacity}=\frac{3780}{48} \approx79\text{ Ah}$$

A nominal battery capacity of approximately 48 V, 100 Ah is an illustrative starting point, with the final choice depending on battery chemistry, usable capacity, temperature, and required backup time.

An inverter rated around 1 kVA may be suitable for this example only if simultaneous loads, refrigerator starting surge, and future expansion are verified.

For a grid-connected system without battery backup, battery sizing may not be necessary.

8. Site Survey for Solar Installation

The following parameters should be checked during the village visit:

• Roof type, condition, and available area.
• Direction and tilt of the roof.
• Shading from trees, buildings, and other obstructions.
• Solar irradiation and seasonal sunlight conditions.
• Existing electricity connection and meter details.
• Earthing, lightning protection, and cable routing.
• Safety and accessibility for installation and maintenance.
• Household electricity bills and actual daily consumption.
• Grid availability and required backup duration.

9. Estimated Survey Summary for 50 Households

For illustration, if 35 households are suitable for solar installation and each installs a 1 kWp system:

Parameter	Estimated value
Suitable households	35
Proposed capacity per household	1 kWp
Total proposed solar capacity	35 kWp
Assumed peak-sun hours	5 hours/day
Performance ratio	0.75
Estimated daily generation	131.25 kWh/day
Estimated annual generation	47,906 kWh/year

These are preliminary estimates, not measured generation figures. Actual output will vary with local weather, shading, system losses, and seasonal conditions.

10. Conclusion

The village survey identifies household electricity requirements and evaluates the feasibility of installing solar power systems. Based on the illustrative household load calculation, a daily energy demand of 2.72 kWh corresponds to a preliminary solar capacity of approximately 1 kWp. A complete installation plan should be finalized after site inspection, load verification, and assessment of whether the system will be grid-connected or off-grid.