26 kW Pool Villa Off-Grid Solar System

Short answer

Solar Nexo is a solar company based in Kepez, Antalya. In this reference project, a 26 kW grid-independent energy system was installed for a pool villa. The panel array and battery bank form an off-grid solution designed to cover household loads, including the pool pump, without the grid.

Project summary

This reference project is a 26 kW system installed to meet the grid-independent energy needs of a pool villa. Continuously running loads such as the pool circulation pump are at the center of the design. Location and date information is not given on this page.

System components

Power: 26 kW (treated as panel power)
Panel array: photovoltaic panels
Inverter: off-grid inverter; no grid connection
Storage: battery bank; type and capacity are not specified
Load focus: pool pump, air conditioning and household appliances

Why was this system designed this way?

Pool pump: a continuous load with a starting current

Pool filtration pumps run for several hours a day, often at anywhere from a few hundred watts to a kilowatt. Induction motors draw several times their rated current at start-up. The off-grid inverter's momentary (surge) power must cover this starting current; otherwise the inverter goes into overload protection. For this reason inverter selection is not made on average power alone.

Shifting the pump to production hours

The most efficient filtration solution is to move the pump to the middle of the day with a timer relay. The pump is then fed directly from panel production and battery cycling is reduced. The evening hours are left for air conditioning, lighting and kitchen loads. Because pool, air conditioning and pump loads coincide in the summer months, July, at 168 kWh/kWp in PVGIS, is the highest-production month of the year; this period is when the system runs most comfortably.

The limit of running without the grid

The total of loads running at the same time, such as air conditioners, the pool pump and the oven, must not exceed the inverter's continuous power. To limit the peak load, load sequencing or automatic contactors are used. Battery capacity is not specified on this page; it is calculated from the night load and the desired autonomy.

Pool heating and additional loads

In pool villas, besides the pump there may also be loads such as a robotic cleaner, a UV sterilizer, lighting and a possible heat exchanger. Electric pool heating draws a very large amount of energy and is generally not suitable for an off-grid system. For this reason, at the start of the design, which pool devices will run at which hours is fixed in a written load schedule; this schedule directly determines the battery and inverter size.

Estimated production

In the PVGIS calculation (European Commission JRC, PVGIS 5.3) for central Antalya conditions, assuming optimum tilt and 14% system losses, annual specific production is 1,656 kWh/kWp. With the PVGIS reference for central Antalya, for 26 kW of power this means a theoretical production potential of about 43,056 kWh/year.

Period	Specific production (kWh/kWp)	Estimated production (kWh)
January (lowest)	99	2,574
July (highest)	168	4,368
Annual	1,656	43,056

Loads that can be moved to the daytime, such as the pool pump, raise the share of production that is used in an off-grid system. The value in the table is theoretical potential; when the battery is full, panel output is curtailed. The "26 kW" value in the table is treated as panel power. These values are a theoretical PVGIS calculation; actual production varies with roof or land orientation, tilt and shading.

Installation and commissioning process

At the survey, the pool pump's motor power, its running hours and the villa's air conditioning loads are noted. In project design, the inverter's momentary power capacity and the battery management are chosen according to these loads. During installation and commissioning, the pump timer program and load priorities are set. Maintenance and 7/24 technical support are provided afterwards.

For a similar system

It suits homeowners with a pool villa who do not want to depend on a grid connection. Listing loads such as the pool pump and air conditioning in advance noticeably improves sizing.

Questions about this project

Can a pool pump run on solar power?

Yes, but the off-grid inverter must have momentary power that can cover the pump's starting current. If the pump is programmed for the middle of the day, it is fed directly from panel production. This reduces battery load and the system runs more evenly. If the pump power is high, using a soft starter or a frequency drive noticeably reduces the starting current and eases the load on the inverter.

Does this system work during a power outage?

Because the system is not connected to the grid, it is unaffected by grid outages. The villa is fed from the panels and the battery bank. Its continuity is determined by battery capacity, seasonal production and the total of loads running at the same time. The total of loads running at the same time must not exceed the inverter power; a priority and timing plan is therefore made for loads such as the pump, air conditioning and oven.

How many kWh does a 26 kW pool villa system produce?

With the PVGIS reference for central Antalya of 1,656 kWh/kWp, a theoretical potential of about 43,056 kWh/year is calculated. Actual production varies with roof orientation, tilt and shading; in an off-grid system the energy used is lower when the battery fills and panel output is curtailed. Loads that draw very high energy, such as pool heating, need a separate assessment; they are generally not suitable for off-grid.

Related guides

Estimated yields are theoretical values based on PVGIS 5.3 data (EU Joint Research Centre); actual output depends on roof orientation, tilt, shading and temperature.