Residential solar in La Guajira responds to two local conditions: exceptional sunlight and real electricity-continuity concerns. UPME cites average regional irradiation of about 6.0kWh/m²/day, while Superservicios has documented customer complaints about outages in the Caribbean region. At this home, a 4.8kWp array generates during the day, a 5kW inverter supplies AC loads and a lithium battery bank stores energy for periods without sun or grid power.

La Guajira, Colombia — Jun 15, 2026. Sunchees completed the installation at a two-storey, four-bedroom, two-bathroom residence. The system comprises eight 600W double-glass modules, one 5kW inverter and a lithium battery bank recorded as 260Ah. Site work took two days.

Why self-generation and backup suit a four-bedroom home here

Colombia's 2018 Census reports an average household size of 3.6 people in La Guajira, compared with 3.1 nationally. It does not give a separate average for four-bedroom homes. A three-to-five-person range is useful as a planning scenario, not as the confirmed occupancy of this customer. More occupants usually extend the daily operating hours of refrigeration, lighting, electronics and cooling.

The eight modules total 4.8kWp. During solar hours they can supply appliances already running and direct surplus energy to the battery. The reduction in grid purchases depends on how much consumption coincides with production. Runtime during an outage depends on the battery bank's usable energy and the circuits selected.

What is confirmed and what remains to be verified

Item	Confirmed	Information still required
PV array	8 × 600W = 4.8kWp	Module model, orientation, tilt, shade and design yield
Inverter	5kW	Continuous/surge rating, output voltage and MPPT range
Battery	260Ah	Voltage, quantity, chemistry, usable discharge and BMS settings
Installation	Two days	Commissioning report, protection tests and final single-line diagram

Installed Jun 15, 2026: 5kW Solar System for a Home in La Guajira

Runtime calculation starts with battery voltage as well as amp-hours. The base formula is voltage (V) × capacity (Ah) ÷ 1,000 = nominal energy (kWh). A 260Ah bank stores very different energy at 12V, 24V or 51.2V, and the number and configuration of batteries also change the result. This article therefore preserves the original 260Ah record, with battery kWh and backup hours pending the complete nameplate.

What can the 4.8kWp array produce?

Using 6.0kWh/m²/day and an 80% overall planning factor gives 4.8 × 6 × 0.8 = 23.0kWh/day. The array may approach the inverter rating during strong sunlight, but 5kW for a full 24 hours would require 120kWh.

One practical way to read the 23kWh estimate is to use 8kWh directly during the day and leave approximately 15kWh for charging. Another is an average 2kW load for around 11.5 hours. Orientation, module temperature, shade and battery state of charge will change the actual curve.

How many air conditioners can the 5kW inverter run?

Alkosto and Falabella currently list residential systems in 9,000, 12,000, 18,000 and 24,000 BTU classes in Colombia. These catalogues establish available capacity bands, not a best-selling model. LG Colombia publishes about 1.09kW nominal input for a 12,000 BTU inverter unit and about 1.50–1.62kW for an 18,000 BTU unit.

If planned continuous loading is limited to about 4kW and 1kW is reserved for refrigeration, lights, television and internet, approximately 3kW remains for cooling. That margin supports two 12,000 BTU units at about 2.2kW total, or one 18,000 BTU unit plus one 12,000 BTU unit at roughly 2.6–2.7kW. Two 18,000 BTU units are already close to or above the 3kW cooling allowance; maximum input in hot weather and other household loads reduce the margin further.

The available record is sufficient to estimate simultaneous air-conditioner count from inverter power. Battery voltage and quantity are still required to calculate how many hours those units can operate.

Installation environment and connection route

Site inspection records should cover anchors, cable protection, earthing continuity, overcurrent and surge protection, ventilation and service clearances. Wind, distance from the sea, salt exposure and corrosion conditions vary across La Guajira, so the exact address and equipment protection ratings guide material selection.

CREG Resolution 174 of 2021 applies to qualifying small-scale self-generation projects connected to Colombia's interconnected system. CREG's 2026 storage documentation also provides for battery power and energy data in connection forms. The single-line diagram, grid connection point and export-control arrangement distinguish a connected system from a fully off-grid one; local RETIE documentation and operator applications remain part of the Colombian project route.

Sunchees prepares a site-specific design from the load list, voltage, roof, backup target and connection plan. Our 5kW off-grid solar system is a range reference; the final configuration belongs in the project bill of materials.

Frequently asked questions

How many kWh does 260Ah represent?

There is no single figure yet. Battery voltage and quantity are required. The nominal value is then calculated as V × Ah ÷ 1,000, followed by usable-discharge and inverter-efficiency allowances.

Can the array keep the inverter at 5kW all day?

No. Preliminary production is about 23kWh per day, while 5kW sustained for 24 hours would require 120kWh.

What should a homeowner provide to replicate this solution?

Provide daily energy use, appliance power and schedules, priority loads, backup hours, roof and shade photographs, site voltage, the grid-connected or off-grid plan and the complete battery nameplate.