Home Solar System in Antalya: 3, 5 and 10 kWp Compared

The question we hear most about a home solar system is: 3, 5 or 10 kWp? The short answer depends on your home's annual electricity consumption, the usable area of your roof and your subscription's contract power. Because 1 kWp produces about 1,656 kWh a year in Antalya, a 3 kWp system can suit a low-consumption flat, 5 kWp a medium-sized detached house, and 10 kWp a villa with loads such as air conditioning and a pool pump. In this article we compare the three sizes by panel count, roof area and output.

What is a kWp in a home solar system, and how many kWp is one panel?

kWp (kilowatt-peak) is the total power of the panels in the system under standard test conditions. For example, four 605 Wp panels such as the TommaTech TT605-144TN10 make 2.42 kWp, and eight make 4.84 kWp. Since the panel measures 2278x1134 mm, each panel takes up about 2.6 m²; that means about 4.3 m² of panel surface alone for 1 kWp. The real area requirement is larger because of the gaps between panels, roof protrusions and the walkways left for maintenance.

Power density varies with the technology. In n-type TOPCon panels efficiency reaches 23.42%, so more kWp can fit on a limited roof. This matters especially for the restricted roofs in Muratpaşa and Kepez.

3, 5 and 10 kWp: a side-by-side comparison

The table below is based on PVGIS's figure of 1,656 kWh/kWp for central Antalya (optimum tilt 33°, south-facing, 14% system loss) and on 605 Wp panels. The values reflect ideal conditions; shading, orientation and tilt differences can reduce real output.

Round kWp values do not fit exactly into a whole number of panels, so the actual system power comes out as 3.03 or 4.84 kWp. Output is found by multiplying your system power by 1,656. For example, 4.84 kWp x 1,656 = about 8,015 kWh.

Which home suits which size?

3 kWp: small flats and low-consumption homes

An average monthly output of about 420 kWh makes sense for a flat with a refrigerator, lighting, a washing machine and limited air-conditioning use. If roof space is limited, or your share of a shared apartment roof is small, 3 kWp is a sensible start. Remember that an apartment roof requires a decision by the unit owners; for details, see our article on solar panels for apartment buildings.

5 kWp: detached homes and medium consumption

This is a common size for detached homes in Kepez, Aksu and Döşemealtı. A monthly output of about 670-750 kWh can cover a large share of a family's average year-round consumption. Because output also rises in summer when the air-conditioning load increases, this size often offers a good balance in Antalya.

10 kWp: villas, pools and high consumption

In villas in Konyaaltı, Belek and Manavgat, air conditioning, a pool pump and many appliances run together. In such homes systems of 10 kWp and above come into play. You can find details of villa-scale hybrid systems in our article on villa solar system design. In the Manavgat installation that Solar Nexo shared on Instagram, 20 panels of 605 W (12.1 kWp) and a 15 kW hybrid inverter were used.

How do you match production to consumption?

The simplest way to find the right size is to divide the total kWh on your last 12 months of bills by 1,656. For example, a home that consumes 8,000 kWh a year needs 8,000 / 1,656 = about 4.8 kWp; with 8 panels of 605 Wp that corresponds to about 4.84 kWp. For a more detailed method, see our article on how many kW of solar panels you need.

However, a home solar system should be assessed not only by its annual total but also by its seasonal distribution. According to PVGIS, 1 kWp in Antalya produces 99 kWh in December and 168 kWh in July. That is, winter output is about 59% of summer output. If your air-conditioning load is heavy in summer, production and consumption overlap; if you use electric heating in winter, the system may not cover consumption in those months.

This seasonal difference directly affects size selection. If you choose a system that covers total consumption over the year, summer output can exceed consumption, and in winter the opposite happens. With a residential subscription, surplus can be credited, so this is not an obstacle, but the value of the surplus is lower than the avoided bill amount. Keeping the system at a size matched to consumption, rather than sizing it clearly above annual consumption, is therefore usually the more balanced choice economically. For families who are not at home during the day, moving the washing machine and dishwasher to midday is also a simple way to increase self-consumption.

Common mistakes when choosing a size

• Looking only at the monthly bill: Summer and winter consumption differ markedly in Antalya. Annual total kWh is a far more reliable measure than a single month's bill.
• Not allowing for the future: If you plan to add air conditioning, a pool pump or electrical appliances soon, say so at the survey; adding capacity later may require re-evaluation of the application and contract power.
• Overestimating roof area: Chimneys, sunshades, water tanks and shadows from neighbouring buildings reduce the usable area. The panel layout should be confirmed with a drawing.
• Choosing inverter power at random: The inverter must match the panel power and the home's phase structure. Single-phase and three-phase connections impose different limits; check your subscription type in the distribution company's records.

Regulation: which limits apply?

For installations connected to a residential subscription, no generation or sales limit (paid-generation limit) applies, whatever the installed power; this is confirmed by EPDK's (Turkey's Energy Market Regulatory Authority) Clarification No. 1 of May 2026 and the net metering procedure in the Official Gazette of 5 May 2026. The capacity ceiling is your contract power; the system power cannot exceed it. Rooftop systems up to 25 kW benefit from the simplified procedure. For residential subscriptions, net metering (mahsuplaşma) is carried out monthly; surplus is valued at the single-rate active energy unit price of the relevant tariff. This price is lower than the total unit charge on the bill, so consuming as much of the output as possible at home is economically advantageous.

In addition, main equipment such as panels, inverters and batteries must have been manufactured within the last five years. The application is made through the LUS platform of AEDAŞ (the regional electricity distribution company). Because regulations change often, verify the current conditions before applying.

Roof conditions: area, orientation and shading

The roof most often decides the size of the system. A south-facing roof at a 33° pitch is close to PVGIS's optimum; on east- or west-facing roofs output drops. In Antalya, pitched tile roofs, flat terrace roofs and trapezoidal sheet roofs are common. On a flat roof, when the panels are tilted, a shading distance must be left between rows, which reduces the kWp that fits in the same area. The load-bearing capacity of the roof needs to be assessed by a civil engineer; the distribution company and the municipality may ask for a structural suitability certificate.

In a home solar investment, the roof has the final say. During the free survey your roof is measured, a shading analysis is done and the most suitable size is determined. For cost items, see our article on solar panel prices, and for a quick preliminary calculation use the calculation tool.

Conclusion

3 kWp is a suitable starting point for small flats, 5 kWp for detached homes and 10 kWp for villa-scale consumption; however, the final decision should be made on your annual consumption, roof area and contract power. At the survey, Solar Nexo assesses all three on site and recommends the size that suits you.

#Cost and Investment#Home Solar#Kwp#Panel Count#Annual Output