Can AC Run on Solar Power? A Guide on Using a Solar Panel For ACs in 2025 the Right Way

Air conditioners are one of the heavy-load home appliances that use a lot of electricity, raising the bills significantly in the summer. One of the best ways to lower your electricity bills while still using an air conditioner is to use a solar panel for AC. Using solar for air conditioning and running other home appliances can reduce your electricity bills by 90% or more and tackle the problem of air pollution easily.

While there are specific solar-powered air conditioners on the market, the better option is to install an on-grid rooftop solar panel system for homes that can power all home appliances, including air conditioners.

Let’s give you an example to make it clear why installing a rooftop solar system is better than purchasing a new solar-powered air conditioning unit. 

While a 1.5-ton solar AC price in India from premium manufacturers can range up to ~Rs. 1.3 lakh* or more, you can install a 3 kW on-grid solar system on your rooftop for ~Rs. 1.02 lakh* in Lucknow to ~Rs. 1.57 lakh* in Bengaluru after a subsidy. The benefit of using a solar panel for AC instead of purchasing a new solar AC unit is that rooftop solar will generate free solar electricity that will run all your household appliances, not just the AC. 

*Please note: The above-mentioned solar panel price for on-grid rooftop solar systems with a subsidy is indicative as of 9th September 2025 for the SolarSquare Blue 6ft variant. The final cost of installing an on-grid rooftop solar panel system at home depends on your DISCOM charges, product variant opted for, panel type, inverter type, mounting structure height, city, type of after-sales service, savings guarantee, roof height, etc. Prices are subject to change. Additionally, the solar AC price provided is based on standard market estimates and can vary significantly depending on the brand. SolarSquare does not sell or install solar-powered air conditioners. We install on-grid rooftop solar for housing societies, homes, and commercial complexes. 

In this blog, we’ll break down how to use a solar panel for AC, the cost of installing solar for air conditioning in India, Solar AC price, formula and detailed calculation explaining how many solar panels you will require to run an air conditioner in your home, and the benefits of using solar energy for air conditioning.

TL;DR Summary Box: Can AC Run on Solar Power?

Yes, air conditioners can easily run on solar power. Rooftop solar systems contain high-efficiency solar panels that generate free solar electricity, enough to power all home appliances, including air conditioning units. 

The easiest way for most homes to run AC on solar is by installing an on-grid rooftop solar system. 

• During the day: Your solar panels power the AC and other appliances.
• During the night: The bidirectional net meter imports electricity from the grid to keep the AC and other appliances running. 

Here are the main topics covered in this blog in detail:

*Please note: The above-mentioned solar AC prices are based on standard market estimates and can vary significantly based on the brand. SolarSquare does not sell or install solar AC units. We install on-grid rooftop solar for housing societies, homes, and commercial complexes.

What is a Solar-Powered Air Conditioner?

Solar-powered air conditioners are cooling devices that use solar renewable energy as their primary power source instead of relying entirely on conventional grid electricity. They combine traditional air conditioning technology with solar power generation to provide efficient, eco-friendly cooling solutions.

Homes usually power air conditioning units in three ways:

• Rooftop solar + a standard AC (grid-tied): Here, solar panels make DC power and a grid-tie inverter turns it into AC for your home. No batteries or charge controller are required in this setup.
• AC/DC hybrid solar AC unit: This outdoor unit takes PV cables directly and blends solar with mains power. No external inverter, controller, or battery is needed for daytime use.
• DC solar AC (off-grid system): It runs directly from DC power/batteries in remote or telecom setups.

A solar AC unit typically consists of several key components working together:

• Solar panels: These photovoltaic modules convert solar radiation into direct current electricity.
• Solar panel charge controller: It regulates power flow and prevents battery overcharging.
• Inverter: It converts DC electricity from panels into AC power for the air conditioner.
• Battery storage for off-grid or hybrid solar AC units: It stores excess solar energy for nighttime or cloudy weather operation.
• Air conditioning unit: This is the standard AC unit that runs on solar-generated power

How Does a Solar AC Unit Work?

Solar panel air conditioners operate through a straightforward energy conversion process, but their operation depends on whether they include battery storage or not.

• Battery-free solar-powered air conditioners: These are grid-tied solar AC units where solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into DC electricity through photovoltaic cells during the daytime. This electricity directly powers the solar-powered AC unit through an inverter. When solar production exceeds consumption, excess power flows back to the grid. At night or during low solar conditions, the system automatically draws power from the grid.
• Battery-equipped solar-powered air conditioning units: These are off-grid or hybrid units that use solar panels similarly to battery-free solar AC units, but include energy storage capability. During the daytime, solar panels power the AC while simultaneously charging lead-acid or lithium batteries, whichever the AC unit uses. When solar production is insufficient, the system seamlessly switches to battery power. Hybrid systems can also integrate with grid power as a backup option.

Most modern solar-powered air conditioning units with hybrid capabilities automatically manage power distribution based on available solar energy, battery charge levels, cooling demands, and grid availability. This intelligent power management ensures continuous cooling regardless of weather conditions or time of day.

How Many Solar Panels Do I Need to Run an AC Unit?

The number of solar panels required to run an AC unit depends on the size of the air conditioner. 

We will guide you with the simplest formula to calculate the number of solar panels needed for different capacity solar ACs. However, you must understand that this in no way should be assumed as the ideal size of the solar system required to power an entire household. When sizing a solar system, you also have to consider that the solar panels will be powering all home appliances, not just the air conditioning units. 

That said, let’s give you a clear breakdown of the number of electricity units required to run a 1-ton AC unit at home, before we explain the number of solar panels needed to run different capacity solar air conditioners.

Here’s the formula used to calculate the electricity units an appliance uses:

If you have a 1-ton air conditioner that offers 3.517 kW of cooling and has an EER of around 3.5, based on the formula above, it will consume 8 units of electricity daily.

Since a 1 kW solar system produces 4 units of electricity daily, as a rule of thumb, a 2 kW solar system will be able to generate 8 units of electricity. 

Based on this, you can use the formula listed below to calculate the number of solar panels used to build a 2 kW solar system that can generate 8 units of electricity daily: 

If you’re using 540-watt bifacial solar panels in this case, you will need ~4 solar panels (2,000 watts ÷ 540 watts) to run a 1-ton air conditioner. However, a 2 kW solar system alone cannot run an air conditioner, as it must fulfil the energy requirements of the entire household.  

Number of Solar Panels Needed for Different Sizes of Solar ACs

Using the same formulas listed in the section above, we’ve calculated the number of electricity units required to run different capacity solar AC units and the number of solar panels needed to generate those electricity units, considering you use 540-watt bifacial solar panels. 

*Please note: These numbers are estimates based on 8 hours of AC use per day. We’ve taken 1 ton = 3.517 kW (cooling) and EER = 3.5, which gives about 1 kW input per ton. Daily units are then input (kW) × hours. Solar output is taken as ~4 units per kW per day, though the actual units produced depend on sunlight, tilt, shading, and installation quality. The actual number of solar panels required to run an AC can vary from the given range based on the AC’s actual EER and the actual number of electricity units produced by a solar system.

What’s the Solar AC Price in India in 2025?

The solar AC price in India in 2025 for premium AC brands can range from ~Rs. 1.3 lakh+* for a 1.5-ton solar-powered AC to ~Rs. 1.5 lakh+* for a 2-ton solar-powered air conditioner. 

*Please note: The above-mentioned solar AC prices are based on standard market estimates and can vary significantly based on the brand. SolarSquare does not sell or install solar AC units. We install on-grid rooftop solar for housing societies and homes, as well as commercial rooftop systems. 

What Are the Features and Specifications of a Solar-Powered Air Conditioning Unit?

Solar AC units feature advanced technology, including smart power management, variable speed compressors, and automatic switching between solar, battery, and grid power.

Let’s check out the main features of solar-powered air conditioners: 

Now, let’s check out the key specifications of a 1.5-ton solar AC unit:

Purchasing a New Solar-Powered AC Unit vs Powering Old AC Through a Rooftop Solar System

Installing on-grid rooftop solar to generate free solar electricity that can power your conventional air conditioners is a better investment than purchasing a new solar-powered air conditioner because rooftop solar will be powering your entire household, not a single appliance. As a result, it will reduce the electricity bills by 90% or more, and in many cases, make the bills zero.

Benefits of Using a Solar Panel for AC With Rooftop Solar To Power Old ACs Instead of Purchasing a New Solar Panel Air Conditioner 

Installing rooftop solar for powering all home appliances, including conventional air conditioners, is a lot more beneficial than buying a new solar AC unit because the former can power the entire household, reduce electricity bills by 90% or more, and tackle the problem of air pollution single-handedly. 

Let’s check out all the benefits of installing rooftop solar for powering conventional ACs and other home appliances, instead of buying a new solar-powered AC unit.

#1. It will power the entire household

You’ll have to invest between ~Rs. 1.3 lakh+* for a 1.5-ton solar-powered AC and ~Rs. 1.5 lakh+* for a 2-ton solar-powered air conditioner. On the other hand, installing a simple 3 kW on-grid solar system that can power one 1.5-ton air conditioner alongside other household appliances will cost you between ~Rs. 1.02 lakh* in Lucknow to ~Rs. 1.57 lakh* in Bengaluru after a subsidy. 

Now, would you rather spend 1.3-1.5 lakh rupees in buying a new solar panel air conditioner or invest the same amount in buying a 3 kW on-grid rooftop solar system that will generate around 4,200-4,350 units of electricity annually, and power all important home appliances including a 1.5 ton AC, LED lights, bulbs, fans, a TV, a refrigerator, and a washing machine?

*Please note: The above-mentioned solar panel price for on-grid rooftop solar systems with a subsidy is indicative as of 9th September 2025 for the SolarSquare Blue 6ft variant. The final cost of installing an on-grid rooftop solar panel system at home depends on your DISCOM charges, product variant opted for, panel type, inverter type, mounting structure height, city, type of after-sales service, savings guarantee, roof height, etc. Prices are subject to change. Additionally, the solar AC price provided is based on standard market estimates and can vary significantly depending on the brand. SolarSquare does not sell or install solar-powered air conditioners. We install on-grid rooftop solar for homes, housing societies, and commercial complexes. 

Let’s give you a simple head-on comparison between the estimated cost of installing an on-grid rooftop solar energy system in a city like Nagpur vs the money the system will save in 25 years of its lifespan:

*Please note: The above-mentioned solar panel price is indicative as of 9th September 2025 for the SolarSquare Blue 6ft variant. The final cost of installing an on-grid rooftop solar panel system at home depends on your DISCOM charges, city, product variant opted for, panel type, inverter type, mounting structure height, type of after-sales service, savings guarantee, roof height, etc. Prices are subject to change. Additionally, while calculating savings, we have considered the annual tariff escalation at 3% and the annual degradation at 1%. The actual final savings from solar panel installation depend on the types of solar panels you’ve installed and their efficiency, intensity of sunlight your rooftop receives, orientation of the panels and tilt angle, the pollution level and weather conditions in your city, the temperature, shadow on the roof, impact of dirt/dust, and how well you maintain your panels after installation.

Use SolarSquare’s free solar energy estimator calculator to find out the solar savings from an on-grid solar system in your city vs the amount of initial investment you’ll have to make.

#2. It will reduce electricity bills by 90%

On-grid solar systems, when sized appropriately, can meet all energy requirements, reducing the usage of grid electricity manifold. Most customers report 90% or more bill reduction, while many get zero bills eventually. 

#3. It tackles the problem of air pollution

Installing something as small as a 2 kW solar system can offset 51,744 kg of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in 25 years. Can you imagine? If all homes and housing societies in your city adopted solar energy, how clean would the air become?

Here’s a tabulated snapshot of how much carbon different capacity solar systems can remove from the environment in 25 years of their life:

#4. The government will offer a solar subsidy

The Indian government offers homeowners and housing societies installing on-grid rooftop solar systems a subsidy under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.

• Subsidy for homeowners is capped at Rs. 78,000.
• Subsidy for housing societies is capped at Rs. 90 lakh.

This subsidy, however, is not offered for installing off-grid solar systems, ground-mounted solar systems, or solar systems for commercial purposes. 

Conclusion 

Using solar panels for AC can offer substantial savings on electricity bills as solar panel systems produce free solar electricity for at least 25 years, which can be used to keep air conditioners and other home appliances running. There are many solar-powered air conditioners available in the market, but instead of investing a few lakhs in buying them, you can invest that same money into installing an on-grid solar system that can run all household appliances, including conventional air conditioners.

Buying a solar AC unit instead of installing a rooftop solar system makes sense if net metering is not allowed by your discom. Otherwise, using a solar panel for AC in rooftop solar offers the best return on investment.

A government subsidy under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana makes on-grid solar systems even more lucrative options. For any further information, book a free solar consultation call with SolarSquare.

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FAQs

Q1. Can a 1.5-ton AC run on a solar panel?

Ans. Yes. You will need ~6 540-watt bifacial solar panels to produce ~12 units of electricity required to run a 1.5-ton AC. *Please note: These numbers are estimates based on 8 hours of AC use per day. We’ve taken 1 ton = 3.517 kW (cooling) and EER = 3.5, which gives about 1 kW input per ton. Daily units are then input (kW) × hours. Solar output is taken as ~4 units per kW per day, though the actual units produced depend on sunlight, tilt, shading, and installation quality. The actual number of solar panels required to run an AC can vary from the given range based on the AC’s actual EER and the actual number of electricity units produced by a solar system.

Q2. How many ACs can run on a 5 kW solar system?

Ans. You can run two 1.5-ton air conditioners using a 5 kW solar system that generates 7,000 to 7,250 units of electricity annually.

Q3. What are the benefits of using solar for air conditioning?

Ans. Using solar for air conditioning can reduce your electricity bills by 90% or more, reduce reliance on expensive grid electricity, and offset carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making the air cleaner.