A 5 kW rooftop system sits in the space between "a home that wants to reduce its bill" and "a home that wants to eliminate most of it". It is a common recommendation for larger houses, homes with several air conditioners, or households whose consumption climbs steeply through summer.
Who a 5 kW system suits
As a rough guide, 5 kW matches a household consuming around 550 to 650 units a month on average across the year. If your consumption is 350 units in winter and 900 in peak summer, the annual average is what should drive sizing — not either extreme.
Generation and savings
An unshaded 5 kW system in average Indian conditions typically generates around 600 units a month, or roughly 7,000 to 7,500 units a year. At a residential tariff of about ₹8 per unit, that represents an indicative saving in the region of ₹55,000 to ₹60,000 a year — though your actual saving depends on your tariff slab structure, your consumption pattern and your state's net metering policy.
Roof area required
Plan for approximately 500 sq ft of shadow-free area. In practice this usually means a clear terrace, or an elevated structure that spans obstructions and keeps the space underneath usable — a common approach on Indian homes where the terrace is also a working space.
Indicative cost
At ₹55,000 to ₹70,000 per kW before subsidy, a 5 kW system falls broadly between ₹2.75 lakh and ₹3.50 lakh, depending on module and inverter selection, structure design, roof type and electrical work required.
The subsidy position at 5 kW
This is worth being precise about. Central Financial Assistance under PM Surya Ghar is capped at up to ₹78,000 for systems of 3 kW and above. Installing 5 kW rather than 3 kW does not increase the central assistance. So the additional 2 kW is funded entirely by you — which is fine if you genuinely consume the electricity, and poor value if you do not. This is exactly why sizing should follow consumption.
Practical considerations before you commit
- Sanctioned load. DISCOMs generally link permitted rooftop capacity to your sanctioned load. If yours is low, you may need to apply for an enhancement first.
- Structure and roof condition. A 5 kW array plus structure is a real load on your roof for 25 years. Roof condition and waterproofing should be assessed before installation, not after.
- Shading through the day. A site assessment should check shadows in the morning, at noon and in the afternoon — and account for how they change between summer and winter.
- Future consumption. If an electric vehicle or additional air conditioning is likely within a few years, it is often cheaper to size for it now than to extend later.
This guide is general information, not technical or financial advice for a specific property. Figures are indicative and vary by location, tariff, site conditions and current policy. For a decision, get a site assessment. Talk to RIJARA ENERGY →