How Many Solar Panels to Run
Aircon in the Philippines? (2025)

Inverter Aircon vs Standard Aircon — Why It Matters for Solar

Before sizing your solar system for aircon, the most important question is what type of aircon you have — because the power consumption difference is massive.

• Standard (non-inverter) aircon: Runs at full power constantly — compressor goes full blast, then shuts off, then blasts again. A 1HP non-inverter aircon draws 1,000–1,200W at all times when running.
• Inverter aircon: Modulates compressor speed to match cooling demand. Once the room is cooled, it settles at 30–50% power. A 1HP inverter aircon averages 600–800W over time — and as low as 300W in a well-insulated room at night.

If you haven't switched to inverter aircon yet, do it before sizing your solar system. The savings in solar panels needed — and battery required for overnight operation — are significant enough to pay for the aircon upgrade.

How Much Power Does Aircon Actually Use in the Philippines?

These are average consumption figures for inverter aircon units in a typical Philippine home room (bedroom or sala), operating at 24–26°C setpoint:

• 0.75HP inverter aircon: ~500–650W running average
• 1HP inverter aircon: ~650–850W running average
• 1.5HP inverter aircon: ~950–1,200W running average
• 2HP inverter aircon: ~1,400–1,700W running average
• 2.5HP inverter aircon: ~1,700–2,200W running average

At 8 hours of operation per day, a 1HP inverter aircon consumes roughly 5.6–6.8kWh/day. At ₱11/kWh, that's ₱62–₱75 per day, or ₱1,860–₱2,250 per month — just for one aircon unit.

How Many Solar Panels by Aircon Size

Based on 8 hours of daytime aircon operation, Philippine PSH of 4.5–5 hours, and 600W panels:

*Daytime-only operation with solar. No battery required if you only use aircon during daylight hours. For overnight use, add battery sizing below.

Daytime Aircon is Free. Overnight Aircon Needs Battery.

Here's the key point most people miss: if you run your aircon only during daytime (e.g., for a home office or sala while you're home during the day), the solar panels cover it directly — you don't need a battery at all. The solar generation and aircon consumption happen simultaneously.

For overnight aircon — the most common Filipino use case, with aircon in the bedroom from 10PM to 6AM — you need battery storage:

• 1HP inverter aircon overnight (8hrs): ~6kWh → needs at minimum a 10kWh LiFePO4 battery (with some reserve for other loads)
• 1.5HP inverter aircon overnight: ~9kWh → needs a 15kWh battery (two 5kWh units or one 15kWh bank)
• 2HP inverter aircon overnight: ~13kWh → needs a 15–20kWh battery bank

The solar panels recharge the battery during the day, and the battery powers the aircon at night. A properly sized 6KW system with 15kWh of battery handles one 1.5HP bedroom aircon + all other household loads indefinitely.

Full System Recommendation by Use Case

• "Just want to reduce my bill, aircon during day": 3KW on-grid system — covers 1HP aircon + household loads during daytime. No battery needed. Lowest cost option.
• "Bedroom aircon overnight, no brownout concern": 3KW on-grid for daytime savings + a separate battery system for nights. Or a 3KW hybrid with 10kWh battery.
• "Whole house, aircon + brownout protection": 6KW hybrid with 10–15kWh battery. Covers 1.5HP bedroom aircon overnight + entire house daytime load + brownout protection.
• "Multiple aircon units": 10KW hybrid with 15–20kWh battery. Handles 2–3 aircon units plus full household load.