Solar Payback Calculator FAQ

2. What assumptions are made in the calculations?

The calculations are based on the following assumptions:

No shading on the rooftop area used for panel installation.
Standard solar panel specifications are used unless custom inputs are provided.
Solar generation assumes an average annual output as per the below table (based on the governate selected).

Governate	Latitude	Longitude	kWh/kW/year	الولاية
Muscat	23.61	58.59	1817.7	مسقط
Al Batinah	24.36	56.73	1811.8	الباطنة
Al Dhahira	23.23	56.52	1874.8	الظاهرة
Al Dakhliya	22.92	57.53	1864.6	الداخلية
Al Sharqiya	22.57	59.53	1829.9	الشرقية
Al Wusta	20.72	56.82	1891.3	الوسطى
Dhofar	19.04	55.49	1923.9	ظفار

3. What are the tariffs used in this calculator?

The tariffs are as follows:

Tier 1: 14 bz/kWh for the first 4000 kWh/month.
Tier 2: 18 bz/kWh for consumption from 4001 to 6000 kWh/month.
Tier 3: 32 bz/kWh for consumption above 6000 kWh/month.

After the subsidy is fully lifted, the tariff becomes 32 bz/kWh across all tiers.

4. How is the system cost calculated?

The system cost is estimated based on:

A fixed cost of 400 OMR per kW installed.
The total installable capacity in kW, adjusted for rooftop area and panel specifications.

5. What panel specifications are used?

By default, the calculator uses standard panel specifications:

Width: 1.25 meter
Length: 2.10 meters
Capacity: 0.6 kW

Custom specifications can be provided by the user if the "Default Panel Specs" checkbox is unchecked.

6. What are the limitations of this calculator?

Limitations include:

It does not account for shading, extreme weather conditions, or roof orientation.
It assumes the rooftop is flat and fully available for panel installation without obstructions.

7. How is the payback period calculated?

The payback period is calculated based on:

System cost.
Annual savings derived from the estimated annual solar generation and applicable tariff rates.

The calculator stops at 25 years if the payback period exceeds this duration.

8. What are the energy savings assumptions?

Annual energy savings are calculated as the product of:

The installed capacity in kW.
The average annual output in kWh per kW of installed capacity.
The applicable weighted average tariff for the consumption tier.

8. What Solar Contractor should I resort to for installation of PV on my residence?

The Distribution Code Review Panel (DCRP) in Oman has a list of Solar contractors that can be used by customers. You can find the link to the approved contractors below:

DCRP Approved Solar Contractors' List

After accessing the link, click on "Solar Installer List" to see the list of approved solar contractors.