Ecuador's 2024 energy crisis gave residential backup a clear purpose: severe drought reduced hydropower supply and led to scheduled power cuts. Although official rationing ended on 25 March 2025, the experience showed the practical value of keeping refrigeration, lighting, communications and selected cooling available. Imbabura is also identified in official energy material as a province with strong solar potential. This project addresses both needs by producing energy during the day and retaining part of it for the night or a power interruption.

Imbabura Province, Ecuador — Mar 10, 2026. Sunchees completed a solar-and-storage installation for a two-storey home with six bedrooms and three bathrooms. Six 600W double-glass modules were fitted to the pitched roof, together with one 10kW inverter and two 15kWh lithium batteries. The recorded site work took three days.

Why a six-bedroom home may prioritise battery capacity

Ecuador's 2022 Census reports a national average of 3.3 people per household, but it does not publish a specific occupancy figure for six-bedroom homes. Those rooms may accommodate a multigenerational family, guests or a home office, and some may be unused. A four-to-seven-person range is useful as a design scenario; it is not the confirmed occupancy of this property.

Occupancy mainly changes daily energy use in kWh. Several air conditioners or motors operating together change instantaneous demand in kW. Official solar material identifies Imbabura among higher-potential provinces and gives a related average of about 4.575kWh/m²/day. Solar can therefore reduce some daytime grid purchases, while storage can preserve selected circuits during an interruption.

The equipment has three distinct roles. The 30kWh battery bank provides a larger energy reserve, the 10kW inverter manages simultaneous AC power, and the 3.6kWp array controls how quickly solar energy can be replenished. A deep discharge may require more than one sunny day, grid-assisted charging or a later PV expansion.

Confirmed project configuration

Component	Recorded capacity	Role in the home
PV modules	6 × 600W = 3.6kWp	Serve daytime loads and charge the batteries; output varies with orientation, shade and temperature
Inverter	10kW	Supply simultaneous AC loads, subject to voltage, phase arrangement and motor starting demand
Batteries	2 × 15kWh = 30kWh nominal	Extend essential-load operation without sunlight or grid power
Property	Six bedrooms, three bathrooms	Building context; actual loads and backup targets still determine sizing

Installed Mar 10, 2026: 10kW/30kWh Solar System for an Imbabura Home

How much usable energy can 30kWh provide?

With an 80% usable-depth assumption and 90% inverter efficiency, the battery bank would deliver approximately 30 × 0.80 × 0.90 = 21.6kWh to AC loads. A steady average load of 1kW would run for about 21.6 hours; 2kW would run for about 10.8 hours.

These are planning comparisons rather than project measurements. Recorded battery state of charge, AC load and daily charge/discharge energy will show the actual result.

Can the 3.6kWp array recharge the batteries every day?

Using 4.575kWh/m²/day and an 80% overall planning factor gives 3.6 × 4.575 × 0.8 = 13.2kWh/day. If the home uses 5kWh directly during the day, about 8.2kWh remains for charging. A 20kWh overnight battery discharge could not be replaced by the present array in one average day.

This configuration therefore acts like a larger backup reserve with slower solar replenishment. Daily use of around 8kWh from storage is easier to replace in favourable conditions. Repeated deep discharges require several good solar days, grid charging or more modules.

How many air conditioners could run overnight?

Marcimex Ecuador currently lists residential split systems in 12,000, 18,000 and 24,000 BTU classes. Those listings establish locally available sizes, not sales rankings. Regional LG specifications give a nominal cooling input of about 1.08–1.12kW for a 12,000 BTU inverter unit and about 1.50–1.62kW for an 18,000 BTU unit.

Two 12,000 BTU inverter units at 1.1kW each, plus an average 0.8kW for the refrigerator, lights and internet, create an estimated 3.0kW load. The 21.6kWh usable allowance would support that combination for about 7.2 hours. Four equivalent units plus the base load total about 5.2kW, or roughly 4.2 hours. Compressor modulation after rooms cool can extend runtime; extreme heat, low thermostat settings and heat gain shorten it.

Connection and local compliance

The current ARCONEL-005/24 framework covers connection, operation, metering and billing for distributed generation used for self-supply by regulated consumers. The single-line diagram, grid connection point, export-control setting and metering plan determine the route for this property. The supplied project file does not establish a connection status, so this update makes no unverified grid-export claim.

Sunchees prepares comparable systems from the last 12 months of consumption, appliance schedules, essential loads, backup target, roof dimensions and shade, site voltage and grid-connected or off-grid plan. Our 10kW system range is a reference point; the final bill of materials follows the property data.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a 10kWp solar array?

No. Six 600W modules equal 3.6kWp. The 10kW figure is the inverter rating.

Can 30kWh support the entire home overnight?

The planning allowance is about 21.6kWh of AC energy. Two 12,000 BTU inverter air conditioners plus 0.8kW of base loads would run for about 7.2 hours under the stated assumptions; four would run for about 4.2 hours. Other appliances must be added by power and operating time.

What information is required for a quotation?

Provide 12 months of electricity use, equipment power and schedules, priority circuits, desired backup hours, roof dimensions and shade, site voltage and the intended grid-connected or off-grid arrangement.