Solar Panels for Restaurants: Real Calculations from a 24 kWp Rooftop Installation

A 220 m² Mediterranean restaurant in Anamur, Mersin installed a 24 kWp rooftop solar system in September 2024. Owner Mehmet shared the first-year data: 348,000 TRY (~$11,600) investment, 4.8-year payback, 32,000 kWh annual generation. We break down every line.

Investment Breakdown

The 24 kWp system uses 44 monocrystalline 550W panels. Total cost 348,000 TRY with VAT. Hybrid 25 kW inverter 95,000 TRY, installation+wiring+EPDK permit 78,000 TRY, panels 175,000 TRY.

Turkey's unlicensed generation limit is 50 kW — under this threshold permitting is simpler. Grid connection letter took 2 months, provisional acceptance 1 month. Total install 3.5 months.

Annual Generation and Net Metering

Anamur's solar irradiance averages 1,650 kWh/kWp/year. The 24 kWp system produces 32,000 kWh annually. Restaurant consumption is 41,000 kWh; self-consumption ratio 78%.

Excess generation is fed to grid monthly, credited at the ESS (system service fee) rate. 2025 ESS rate is 2.85 TRY/kWh while commercial rate is 3.60 TRY/kWh — the 0.75 spread is the export loss.

Payback and Operations

Monthly electricity bill dropped from 12,300 TRY to 2,700 TRY. Annual savings 115,000 TRY. Simple payback 3.03 years; 4.8 years including maintenance and insurance.

Panels last 25 years; inverter replacement every 12 years (65,000 TRY). Annual cleaning+inspection 4,500 TRY. Dust accumulation can cause 8% efficiency loss — monthly water+brush suffices.

FAQ

Can I install as a tenant? With written landlord consent and EPDK filed in tenant's name, yes — but relocation costs 35,000 TRY for dismantling.

Are there subsidies? KOSGEB energy efficiency programs offer up to 50% grant; application takes 6-9 months.

Do I need batteries? Grid-connected systems don't need them; net metering suffices. Batteries add 240,000 TRY and extend payback to 8 years.

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