Generator vs solar: how fast does solar pay back?
Tell us what your generator really costs and what a solar quote costs. We work out the payback and the savings, using your own numbers. The values below are only an example, so replace them with today's fuel price and your own quote.
Your result
- Generator cost a month
- ₦140,000
- ₦130,000 of it is fuel
- Payback
- 1.9 years
- until savings cover the system
- Net after 10 years
- ₦9,890,000
- after the system, upkeep and batteries
- Fuel not burned
- 1,248 L
- a year, about 2.9 tonnes of CO₂
Running total by year. Red means you are still paying the system off; green means ahead. Dips are battery replacements.
The link includes the numbers you entered, so whoever opens it sees the same result.
Savings are the fuel and servicing solar replaces, less upkeep and battery replacements. It ignores loan interest and inflation of other costs. Carbon figures use about 2.3 kg of CO₂ per litre of petrol and 2.7 kg per litre of diesel.
What next?
Work out the system you would need with the size calculator, read the solar guide and compare quotes from the free installer directory.
This guide is general information, not engineering, electrical or financial advice. Have a qualified, experienced installer assess your home or business, and follow local safety rules and the supplier's instructions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out how much fuel my generator uses?
Note how many litres you buy in a typical week and divide by the weeks. If you buy by the jerrycan, count the cans. If you know your generator's litres per hour, multiply by the hours it runs each day and by seven.
Why is the payback different from the price on my quote?
Payback is how long the fuel and servicing you stop paying take to add up to the cost of the solar system. A bigger system costs more but can replace more of the generator, so compare payback across quotes, not only prices.
Why count battery replacement?
Batteries wear out long before panels do. If you ignore the replacement, solar looks better than it will be. Enter the cost of a new battery bank and how many years your installer says it lasts. Set the cost to zero to leave it out.
Will solar replace my generator completely?
Often not. Heavy loads such as air conditioners and long cloudy spells are usually where a generator stays as a backup. The share setting lets you say how much of its running time solar would take over. 70 to 90 percent is common for a well-sized home system.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is arithmetic on the numbers you enter, and fuel prices, exchange rates and quotes change. Use it to compare options and ask installers to confirm their figures in writing.