kW (kilowatt)

What a kW is

A kilowatt measures power, not energy. It is the rate at which an appliance consumes or a system produces. A central air conditioner can draw several kW when it starts; an LED bulb draws a tiny fraction of one.

When someone says “an 8 kW system,” they mean the maximum power the panels can deliver under ideal lab conditions. On a real roof, with heat, angle and clouds, they almost never reach that full number. That is why kW size alone does not tell you how much you will save.

Why it matters in Florida

Sunshine is abundant here, but heat slightly reduces panel output and the rainy season brings clouds most afternoons. Two systems with the same kW can produce different amounts of kWh depending on roof orientation, shading and the peak sun hours in your area.

What you want to compare between proposals is the estimated annual production in kWh against your consumption, not just how many kW they install. A larger kW system facing the wrong way can yield less than a smaller, well-placed one.

Common mistake

Comparing proposals by price per kW and nothing else. Price per watt is useful, but if one proposal is 8 kW and another 7.5 kW, the right question is how many kWh per year each one produces on your specific home and with which inverter. The full difference is explained in what is a kWh and how much your home uses.