A 100-kilowatt solar power system in Saudi Arabia produces approximately 380 to 510 kilowatt-hours per day, or about 13,000 kilowatt-hours per month on average. It requires roughly 182 panels with a capacity of 550 watts each and a land area of approximately 1,000 to 1,300 square meters for ground-level installation. Before starting, you should know three things: your facility's daily energy consumption pattern, the capacity of the electrical connection point, and the suitable installation location and its structural condition.
- Approximate annual production: 150,000 to 180,000 kWh depending on location, design and maintenance.
- Ground installation provides the best angle and easiest maintenance, but it requires ground, foundations, and a fence.
- In factories: Design the system based on the minimum daytime load, not the total bill.
- In farms: If the main load is submersible pumps, a direct solar submersible pump system may be more suitable than a grid-tied system.
- A project of this size requires a technical study and connection procedures in accordance with the approved requirements before any supply.
How much does a 100 kW system produce and how many panels does it need?
Using the same equation as usual: Daily production = 100 kW × Peak hours × Performance factor. With 5 to 6 peak hours and a performance factor of 0.75 to 0.85, production ranges between 375 and 510 kWh per day, and the usual average is around 440 kWh (100 × 5.5 × 0.8).
| Board capacity | Number of panels | Actual capacity | The area of the panels alone (approximate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 550 watts | 182 | 100.1 kW | Approximately 475 m² |
| 600 watts | 167 | 100.2 kW | Approximately 460 m² |
| 650 watts | 154 | 100.1 kW | Approximately 480 m² (larger panels) |
The instantaneous power at midday in summer is usually in the range of 75 to 85 kilowatts due to the heat of the cells, and this is the figure that you compare to your facility's loads when designing.
Ground-level installation or rooftop installation?
Factories and farms often have both options, and the choice between them depends on the available space and the condition of the buildings:
| Installation location | Approximate area for 100 kilowatts | Features | What needs to be studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth structure | 1,000 to 1,300 m² | Ideal tilt angle and orientation, easy cleaning and maintenance, does not affect buildings. | Rules based on soil type, fencing and protection, cable length to electrical room |
| Metal surface of a factory or warehouse | 570 to 670 m² | It utilizes unused space, often using shorter cables. | Construction and extension support, leak prevention, roof openings |
| Concrete roof | 760 to 950 m² | Good stability of the inclined structure | Distances between rows, obstacles and lockers |
| Parking shades | Approximately 520 m² | Shadow of cars and workers with production | Column foundations, height and movement under the canopy |
In ground-level installations, the slabs are typically arranged in south-facing rows at an angle of inclination close to or slightly less than the site's latitude, with spacing between rows to prevent the front row from shading in winter. We manufacture Grounding structure for panels In our factory in Al-Kharj, we use hot-dip galvanized iron, and we determine the type of foundations (concrete or fixed piles) after inspecting the site and the nature of the soil.
Factory and farm: What is the difference in designing a 100 kW system?
In the factory
Factories consume most of their electricity during working hours, which is well-suited to solar power. However, factory loads fluctuate: motors start and stop, there are downtime periods, and holidays. The practical rule is to compare the system's instantaneous capacity to the factory's minimum daytime load, not its average, to avoid recurring surpluses if no arrangements are in place for exporting them. Connection is typically made to the main low-voltage distribution panel, with a review of the main circuit breaker and transformer capacity.
On the farm
In many farms, the heaviest load is on the submersible pumps, and the first question is: Is it necessary to run the pumps only during the day? If the answer is yes, then the simplest solution is often Agricultural submersible pump systems This system powers the pump directly from the panels using a dedicated pump inverter, without batteries or grid connection. However, if the farm includes housing, sheds, refrigeration, storage, and various loads, a grid-connected or hybrid system with a generator is more suitable. A project might also combine both: one system for the submersible pump and another for the remaining loads.
Illustrative example: A factory operating in two shifts
The following figures are hypothetical and approximate, for illustrative purposes only:
- The factory operates from 7 am to 11 pm, 6 days a week, and its monthly consumption is about 40,000 kilowatt-hours.
- Based on meter readings, approximately 45% of consumption occurs during sunshine hours, which is about 18,000 kilowatt-hours per month.
- The lowest recorded daytime load (breakdown time) is around 90 kilowatts, and the average daytime load is higher than that.
- A 100 kW system produces about 13,000 kWh per month, which is about 33% of total consumption, and about 73% of daytime consumption.
- Its maximum instantaneous power (75 to 85 kilowatts) is less than the minimum daytime load, so almost all of the production is consumed inside the factory on working days.
On weekends, the load is low, so the design addresses this with a control system that limits power output or through established connection arrangements. If the minimum daytime load were only 40 kW, it would be more appropriate to start with a smaller size, such as 50 kW system Or expanding in stages.
What does the cost of a 100 kW system depend on?
Two systems with the same capacity can cost significantly differently, because a large part of the project is determined by the location, not the panels. Key factors:
- Installation location: Ground structure requires foundations and railings, canopies require heavier columns and foundations, while metal roof requires lighter fastening pieces.
- Distance to the anchor point: The further the panels are from the electrical room, the greater the cable cross-sections, lengths, and protection routes.
- Electrical structure status: Do the main board, circuit breaker, and transformer accommodate the system, or do they need modification?.
- Inverter and battery configuration: A grid-tied system without batteries is very different from a hybrid system that stores energy.
- Study, procedures, and maintenance: Design, plans, approvals, operation contract and cleaning.
A list of things you need to know before you begin
- Consumption data: Bills for 12 months, and it is best to record the loads hour by hour for at least a week to know the minimum and maximum daytime load.
- Connection point: The capacity of the transformer, main circuit breaker, and distribution panel, and the distance between them and the location of the panels.
- the site: Ground area or surface, shadows from buildings, trees and reservoirs, and access routes for cleaning.
- Structural condition: Inspect the surfaces before loading, or the nature of the soil for the ground structure.
- Regular procedures: The study, plans and approvals are in accordance with the requirements approved by the competent authorities (such as the Saudi Electricity Company and the Electricity Regulatory Authority).
- Distribution of inverters: One 100 kW inverter, such as Huawei SUN2000-100KTL-M1 InverterOr a 50 kW inverter to continue part of the production during maintenance.
- Cable routes: The cables between panels and the electrical room are long in underground projects, and require suitable cross-sections to minimize losses and protected routes such as Galvanized cable tray Or well-planned trenches.
- Operation and maintenance: Who will clean the panels and how often, what is the water source, and who will monitor the application and alert when production decreases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a 100 kW system require a special transformer?
Not always. Many installations connect to the existing low-voltage panel if its capacity is sufficient, and the decision is made after checking the transformer and main circuit breaker.
How long does it take to implement a system of this size?
The duration includes study, design, procedures, procurement, and installation, with installation itself being the shortest part. The schedule is determined for each project individually.
Can a 100 hp submersible pump be operated with a 100 kW system?
It is usually not enough, because 100 horsepower is equivalent to about 75 kilowatts, and submersible pump systems require panels with a power of approximately 1.3 to 1.5 times the pump's power.
Does open land need a fence?
This is recommended to protect panels and cables from tampering and animals, while leaving a gate and passageways sufficient for cleaning and maintenance equipment.
Should I start with the entire system or in stages?
Phased installation is a good option if the data is incomplete or the budget is divided, provided the connection point and main cables are designed from the outset to accommodate the final size. You can compare sizes in Solar Energy Calculator Before the decision.
Are you planning a 100 kW system for your factory or farm? MITS GROUP provides technical studies, design, supply and installation, manufactures ground structures, roof structures and cable trays at its factory in Al-Kharj, and supplies agricultural submersible pump systems.
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