A 5 kW system is the most common residential size we quote in Jodhpur. It suits 3 BHK homes and mid-sized independent houses running two to three air conditioners through the summer, along with the usual household load — refrigerator, water pump, geysers, lighting and fans.
The consumption band that usually matches a 5 kW array is 450 to 700 units per month averaged across the year. Because Jodhpur load is heavily seasonal, check a summer bill and a winter bill rather than one month in isolation — sizing off a mild month is the most common way people end up with a system that disappoints them in May.
A 5 kW array typically needs 400 to 500 sq ft of shade-free roof using standard mono PERC modules. Bifacial or higher-wattage modules can reduce that; a tilted or elevated structure can recover area on an awkward roof.
Remember that this is usable area. Water tanks, the stairwell mumty and its winter shadow, parapets and walking space between rows all come off the number you measured with a tape.
In the Jodhpur region a well-oriented, unshaded, clean array of this size would typically be expected to produce in the range of 550 to 700 units per month averaged across the year, with summer months above that range and winter months below it.
| Modules | Nine to twelve mono PERC modules depending on wattage, ALMM-listed |
|---|---|
| Inverter | 5 kW grid-tied string inverter, typically dual MPPT |
| Mounting structure | Hot-dip galvanised steel, specified to the site wind-load class |
| Protection | DC and AC isolators, surge protection device, dedicated earthing pits |
| Metering | Bidirectional net meter supplied and installed by JdVVNL |
| Monitoring | Generation monitoring through the inverter manufacturer's app |
| After handover | Scheduled cleaning and electrical checks during the AMC period |
| Indicative system cost | [VERIFY: your current 5 kW price range] |
|---|---|
| PM Surya Ghar central subsidy | Up to ₹78,000 for systems of 3 kW and above |
| Indicative net cost after subsidy | Gross cost less up to ₹78,000 central subsidy |
The subsidy is credited by the government directly to your bank account after installation and DISCOM inspection. It is not a discount applied to the invoice, so you should plan for the full amount up front and treat the subsidy as a reimbursement. Details on the solar subsidy in Jodhpur page.
The deciding factor is summer AC load. A Jodhpur household running two or three air conditioners for several hours a day through April to July consumes several times its winter baseline, and a 3 kW array that looks comfortable in December falls well short in May. Sizing at 5 kW covers that seasonal peak without paying for capacity that sits idle all winter. Note that the central subsidy is capped at ₹78,000 regardless — the extra 2 kW over a 3 kW system is funded entirely by you, so it should be justified by real consumption.
It will not run your home during a JdVVNL outage — a standard on-grid inverter disconnects when grid supply fails, as a safety requirement. It will not take your bill to zero, because fixed charges and meter rent continue regardless. And it will not hit the generation range above if the array is shaded or left dirty, which is why cleaning is part of the AMC rather than an afterthought.