Common Questions
Prices, sizing, licensing and installation — the questions we are asked most often, answered without the marketing.
Questions
What does a solar panel cost in Kenya?
Our panels run from KES 9,900 for a 440W bifacial module to KES 13,800 for a 610W bifacial module. That works out at roughly KES 22 per watt. Panels are one line item in a system: inverter, battery, mounting, cabling, protection and installation are separate.
Can I buy panels only, without installation?
Yes. Panels are sold on their own for collection at Mlolongo or for delivery. If you are not installing them yourself, note that EPRA requires licensed personnel for the electrical work.
Do bifacial panels produce more?
Only where the mounting lets light reach the rear face. On a raised ground-mount over light ground the gain is real; flat against a dark roof it is marginal.
What size inverter do I need for a house in Kenya?
For a typical three-bedroom home with a fridge, lighting, TV and electronics, 3 to 5kW is the usual range. The figure comes from simultaneous load and motor starting current, not from floor area.
Will an inverter run my borehole pump?
It depends on the pump's starting current, which is several times its running rating. Tell us the pump's nameplate figures and we will size for the start, not the run.
Can I add a battery later?
With a hybrid or off-grid inverter, yes, provided the battery voltage matches the inverter's DC bus. Confirm the intended battery at purchase so the inverter is chosen to suit it.
How much does a solar battery cost in Kenya?
A 5kWh 51V lithium-ion unit is KES 95,000. Cost per usable kWh falls as capacity rises, so two units are less than twice the cost per kWh stored.
How long will a 5kWh battery run my house?
For a household load of lights, fridge, TV and electronics, roughly an evening and overnight. High-draw resistive appliances — showers, cookers, heaters — will flatten it in under an hour.
How long do lithium solar batteries last?
Life is quoted in charge cycles rather than years, and depends on depth of discharge and temperature. Mounting the battery somewhere cool and ventilated has a direct effect on how long it lasts.
How much is a solar street light in Kenya?
A 60W all-in-one streetlight with pole bracket is KES 8,500. A 100W floodlight with motion sensor and remote is KES 4,500, and a garden bollard light is KES 1,800.
Do solar lights work through the rainy season?
They keep working, at reduced reserve. The integrated battery is sized for normal overcast conditions; several consecutive heavily overcast days will shorten runtime towards dawn.
Do they need wiring?
No. Each unit is self-contained — panel, battery, controller and LED in one housing — so there is no cabling back to a board and nothing added to your electricity bill.
What does a complete solar system cost in Kenya?
It depends on daily consumption and how much of the load is backed up. The specification is set at survey; we do not quote a system without one, because a quote given without knowing your load is a guess.
Do you offer financing?
Flexible payment arrangements are available on installed systems. Terms are discussed with the quote.
How long does installation take?
Three to five working days on site for a typical residential system. Commercial and institutional installations are scheduled against the site programme.
Is Magna Solar EPRA licensed?
Yes. Magna Solar is EPRA licensed and NCA registered, and holds ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certification. Installations are carried out by EPRA-certified technicians.
Do you install outside Nairobi?
Yes, across all 47 counties. Delivery within Nairobi is free; elsewhere it is quoted per order.
Do you service systems you did not install?
Yes. Maintenance and repair covers third-party systems, including fault-finding on installations that have stopped performing.
How do I pay?
M-Pesa, bank transfer or cash. Flexible payment arrangements are available on installed systems.
Still not answered?
The sizing guide covers how system size is arrived at, and solar prices in Kenya covers what things cost and why.
Ask us directly
If your question is about your specific building, a survey answers it better than a web page.