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🇭🇳 Solar Calculator Honduras

Enter your monthly ENEE bill in lempiras and department — get solar system size, ENEE generación distribuida net metering credits, self-consumption savings, and payback period typically 5–7 years.

Your electricity details
HNL
Solar system results — Honduras
5 kWp system — 1460 kWh/kWp/yr
Monthly kWh usage435 kWh/mo
Annual solar production7,300 kWh/yr
Self-consumption savingsL 16,790/yr
ENEE net metering export creditL 25,185/yr
Total annual benefitL 41,975/yr
Net metering schemeENEE gen. distribuida — 1:1
System cost rangeL 165,000 – L 235,000
Total installed cost (midpoint)L 200,000
Payback period4.8 years
25-year net savingsL 849,375
ENEE net metering: Register under the generación distribuida framework. ENEE installs a bidirectional meter and credits surplus at the retail tariff rate. Contact your regional ENEE office. Typical approval: 6–12 weeks. Note Honduras's tiered tariff — higher consumption brackets pay up to HNL 7.00/kWh, which improves payback for larger users.
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How to Use This Calculator

Enter your monthly bill and department

Enter your average monthly electricity bill in Honduran lempiras (L/HNL) from ENEE (Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica), Honduras's state electricity utility. Honduras uses a tiered tariff — residential consumers pay HNL 4.50–7.00/kWh depending on consumption bracket (~$0.18–0.28/kWh). This calculator uses a blended mid-range rate of HNL 5.75/kWh. Select your department — Choluteca (5.5 PSH) near the Gulf of Fonseca is Honduras's sunniest region; La Ceiba (4.8 PSH) on the humid Caribbean coast receives less effective radiation.

Set system size and net metering status

Select your system size in kWp. Honduras's generación distribuida (distributed generation) framework, established under the Ley de Promoción a la Generación de Energía Eléctrica con Recursos Renovables, allows residential and commercial solar owners to connect to ENEE's grid and receive 1:1 net metering credits for surplus exported electricity. This makes solar highly attractive in Honduras, with typical payback of just 5–7 years for well-designed systems.

Honduras solar economics and ENEE grid

Honduras has some of the most favorable solar economics in Central America. High retail tariffs (up to HNL 7.00/kWh for heavy users), excellent sunshine (5.0–5.5 PSH), and competitive installation costs combine to produce payback periods of 5–7 years — among the best in the region. ENEE has historically struggled with transmission losses and reliability issues, making battery storage an attractive add-on for Honduran installations. The Bay Islands (Islas de la Bahía) rely partly on diesel generation, making solar + storage even more economical there.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ HNL 5.75/kWh (blended ENEE tariff) Annual production = kWp × PSH × 365 × 0.80 efficiency Self-consumption = Annual kWh × 40% (net metering) or 55% (self-only) Self-consumption savings = Self-consumed kWh × HNL 5.75/kWh Net metering credit = Exported kWh × HNL 5.75/kWh (ENEE gen. distribuida) System cost = kWp × HNL 33,000–47,000/kWp (~$1,300–1,900/kWp) Payback = Total cost ÷ Annual benefit (typically 5–7 years)

Honduras's Decreto No. 70-2007 and subsequent SERNA/CONUEE regulations established the legal framework for grid-connected renewable energy. The ENEE generación distribuida program provides a pathway for systems up to 200kW. Larger commercial installations may access power purchase agreements (PPAs) directly with ENEE. Honduras has a goal of 80% renewable electricity by 2034, with solar playing an increasing role alongside existing hydropower dominance. SERNA (Secretaría de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente) oversees environmental permitting for larger solar arrays.

Example

Carlos — Tegucigalpa home, 5kWp with ENEE net metering

Carlos owns a home in Tegucigalpa and pays HNL 2,500/month for electricity. He installs a 5kWp system and registers under ENEE's generación distribuida program.

Monthly billL 2,500
Department / PSHTegucigalpa, 5.0 PSH
System size5 kWp
Net meteringYes — ENEE gen. distribuida

Result

Annual production~7,300 kWh/yr
Production per kWp~1,460 kWh/kWp/yr
Self-consumption savings~L 16,790/yr
ENEE net metering credit~L 25,185/yr
Total annual benefit~L 41,975/yr
System cost rangeL 165,000 – L 235,000
Payback~4.8 years
25-year net savings~L 849,375

Tegucigalpa's 5.0 PSH delivers 1,460 kWh/kWp/yr — excellent by any standard. The combination of high tariffs, good sunshine, and 1:1 net metering produces a remarkable payback under 5 years. Honduras's hot climate means air conditioning is a major load, and sizing solar to offset AC demand is particularly effective. Consider battery storage to handle ENEE outages, which are common in many areas.

FAQ

Honduras offers some of the best solar economics in Central America. With 5.0–5.5 PSH across most of the country, high ENEE tariffs of HNL 4.50–7.00/kWh, and 1:1 net metering, residential payback is typically 5–7 years. Choluteca (5.5 PSH) in southern Honduras near the Gulf of Fonseca is the sunniest area. Solar also provides critical backup during ENEE outages, which are frequent in many regions.
Honduras's generación distribuida framework allows residential and commercial solar owners to connect to ENEE's grid and export surplus electricity. ENEE installs a bidirectional meter and credits surplus at the retail tariff (1:1 net metering). Credits offset future bills. Apply through your regional ENEE office with system specifications and an electrical contractor's documentation. Technical inspection typically takes 6–12 weeks. Systems up to 200kW are eligible. Ensure your installer provides a certified electrical diagram (diagrama eléctrico) for the ENEE application.
Choluteca (5.5 PSH) in southern Honduras near the Gulf of Fonseca is the sunniest region, with a hot, dry, tropical climate. El Paraíso (5.2 PSH) and Comayagua / San Pedro Sula (5.1 PSH) are close behind. Tegucigalpa (5.0 PSH) at higher altitude still performs very well. La Ceiba (4.8 PSH) on the Caribbean coast receives more cloud cover and humidity, reducing effective solar hours.
Installed solar costs in Honduras run approximately HNL 33,000–47,000/kWp (~$1,300–1,900/kWp). A typical 5kWp home system costs HNL 165,000–235,000 (~$6,500–9,500). Prices are competitive for Central America due to lower labor costs. Most panels and inverters are imported; Chinese brands (Growatt, Solis, Huawei) dominate on price. Adding batteries for backup power increases cost but may be justified given ENEE reliability issues. Honduras sales tax (ISR) at 15% generally applies to solar installation services.
Battery storage makes strong sense in Honduras given ENEE's unreliable grid in many areas. A solar + battery system provides power during outages — critical for households with refrigerators, medical equipment, or home businesses. LiFePO4 batteries (10–20 kWh capacity) from brands like BYD, Pylontech, or CATL are increasingly available in Honduras through solar distributors in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. The economic case: avoiding diesel generator costs (~HNL 25/kWh) during outages dramatically improves battery payback. On the Bay Islands, where diesel generation is the baseline, solar + storage can cut electricity costs by 70–80%.

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