What every homeowner should know before going solar
Home electricity bills rise every year — especially midday, when the whole house runs air-conditioning. Solar rooftop is great at cutting that, but before deciding, homeowners usually have three main questions:
- How many years to pay back?
- Do I need a battery?
- What size is actually worthwhile?
How many years to pay back?
For a home that uses a fair amount of daytime power (someone home, AC running, working from home), a grid-tied Solar Rooftop typically pays back in ~5–7 years, while panels carry a performance warranty of up to 25 years.
The more daytime power you use, the faster the payback — because the electricity you generate is consumed immediately (no reliance on selling it back).
Factors that speed up or slow down payback:
- Your current monthly bill (the higher the bill, the more worthwhile)
- Your daytime vs nighttime usage split
- Roof orientation and tilt (south-facing, no shading = best)
Do you need a battery?
Short answer: most of the time, no.
A grid-tied system (connected to the utility grid) cuts daytime power bills fully without a battery — the lowest-cost, fastest-payback option.
When should you add a battery?
- You want backup power during outages (a normal grid-tied system shuts down with the grid for safety)
- You want to store daytime power for the evening (e.g. a home with heavy evening usage)
Note: a battery adds meaningful cost and lengthens payback — so start grid-tied, and add a battery only when you genuinely need it.
What size is actually worthwhile?
The principle is to size it to match your daytime usage — bigger is not better.
- Too large → lots of surplus midday power with no one to use it → sold back at a low rate → slow payback
- Too small → not enough to move the bill
Can the roof take the weight — is it safe?
This is homeowners' biggest worry. The answer:
- Panels and mounting are not heavy when spread across the roof
- A professional installer assesses the roof structure and designs mounts for load-bearing and waterproofing before every installation
- The inverter has an automatic disconnect (anti-islanding) for safety
Real installed homes
Microgrid Technology (a LEONICS subsidiary) installs solar rooftop for many kinds of residences, such as:
- Detached house, Soi Phatthanakan 54, Bangkok — a 5.6 kWp system cutting the monthly bill
- Residence, Lat Phrao Soi 15
- Greenery Apartment, Sukhumvit 61 — an inner-city apartment
- Plakan Resort, Kanchanaburi — a holiday retreat
See the real savings with the Solar Insight Tool
A good system lets you see the results for real — homeowners can check via app/web:
- How much power was generated today
- How much money was saved
- How much CO₂ was avoided
Frequently asked questions
How many years to pay back home solar?
Typically ~5–7 years, depending on your current bill, daytime usage, and system size.Do I need a battery?
No — grid-tied cuts daytime bills fully; a battery is optional, for backup during outages or storing power for the night.Does solar keep supplying power during an outage?
A normal grid-tied system shuts down during an outage for safety. If you need power during outages, add a battery.Can I install on a rented house or condo?
Detached houses and townhouses where you own the roof can. For a condo/apartment you must own the building or get permission from the juristic person.Can I sell power back to the utility?
It depends on the MEA/PEA program and terms at the time. We recommend designing for self-consumption first, then considering selling back.Summary
Home solar rooftop is most worthwhile when sized to match daytime usage — grid-tied pays back fast (~5–7 years) without a battery, and a battery is an optional add-on for backup.
Estimate your home's size and payback at Solar Insight, or see the full solution at Home Solar Rooftop, installed by Microgrid Technology.