Can an AC run on solar power?

Harnessing the power of the sun

Ever since the push towards renewable energy, we have been trying to expand its usage. Of all, solar power seems to be the most popular which we can harness. But there is some apprehension among people around using solar energy to power larger home appliances. One such device is your AC. This just seems like an obvious question – can we run an ACs on solar power? We have a conclusive answer which will clear all your doubts regarding this question.

The simple answer to this question is yes. You can most definitely run your AC on solar power. As long as you provide steady voltage and continuous current, you will have no problems. But there are a few things to keep in mind. There are multiple ways to run an AC on solar power.

There are a few things to consider before running an AC using solar power. There are two broad ways of doing it, and both have their pros and cons.

1. Off-Grid: They are also known as DC-powered solar ACs. In this, the AC runs directly through the solar energy which is stored in a battery, and this battery powers the AC. This is called as ‘off-grid’ since the AC is not connected to the main power supply. The advantages of an off-grid setup are it is easy to install and maintain, it works fantastically well for remote locations and more. The biggest disadvantage of off-grid is that you won't be able to use it if your solar solution is not working plus you need a hefty battery bank to run your AC all night.

2. On-Grid: They are also known as AC-powered solar air conditioners. You will require a device called inverter for it. The inverter will convert the DC from the solar panels into AC. The AC will use up the energy stored in a battery after passing through the inverter. The biggest advantage of this setup is that you can continue using your AC even if your solar solution is not working. You can give excessive energy produced back to the grid.

1. To install an on-grid system, you will require appropriate govt approval beforehand.

2. To run a 1.5-ton AC, you will require at least 10 solar panels each having a wattage of 250 watts.

3. To run a 1-ton AC, you will require at least 4-5 batteries of each 150mAh cell capacity.

4. To run a 1.5-ton AC just on solar panels, you will require a 2.5 or 3 kW power system.

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