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🇬🇹 Solar Calculator Guatemala

Enter your monthly EEGSA or Energuate bill and department — get solar system size, GTQ cost, Generación Distribuida 1:1 net metering savings, and payback period for Guatemalan homes and businesses.

Your electricity details
GTQ (Q)
Solar system results — Guatemala
5 kWp system — 1460 kWh/kWp/yr (5 PSH)
Monthly kWh usage429 kWh/mo
Annual solar production7,300 kWh/yr
Self-consumption savings4,088 GTQ/yr
Net metering export credit (1:1)6,132 GTQ/yr
Total annual benefit10,220 GTQ/yr
Net metering schemeGeneración Distribuida 1:1 (CNEE)
Retail rate used1.4 GTQ/kWh (GTQ 1.00–1.80 tiered)
System cost range40,000 – 60,000 GTQ
Total installed cost (midpoint)50,000 GTQ
Payback period4.9 years
25-year net savings205,500 GTQ
Generación Distribuida active: Guatemala's 1:1 net metering scheme credits all exported solar at the same retail rate you pay. This significantly improves economics — your solar system effectively uses the grid as a free battery. Register with EEGSA or Energuate after installation.
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How to Use This Calculator

Enter your monthly bill and department

Enter your average monthly EEGSA or Energuate electricity bill in Guatemalan Quetzales (GTQ). Guatemala's tiered electricity tariff ranges from GTQ 1.00/kWh for low consumption to GTQ 1.80/kWh for higher usage (~$0.13–0.23 USD), making it one of Central America's more expensive markets — good for solar economics. Select your department — Escuintla on the Pacific coast (5.4 PSH) is the sunniest, while Cobán (4.7 PSH) has more cloud cover due to its cloud forest climate.

Guatemala's Generación Distribuida net metering

Guatemala has one of Central America's best solar policies: the Generación Distribuida scheme (CNEE Resolution 227-2014) provides 1:1 net metering at the retail rate for systems up to 500kW. This means every kWh you export to EEGSA or Energuate is credited at the same rate you pay — effectively using the grid as a free battery. This dramatically improves solar economics and makes systems up to commercial scale financially attractive.

Tourism and hospitality sector

Guatemala's tourism sector — particularly hotels and guesthouses in Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and Petén — has been an early adopter of solar. High electricity consumption (air conditioning, pools, kitchens) combined with GTQ 1.40–1.80/kWh commercial tariffs and the Generación Distribuida scheme makes 8–30kWp systems highly attractive for hospitality businesses, with payback often under 5–6 years.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ GTQ 1.40/kWh (blended EEGSA/Energuate rate) Annual production = kWp × PSH × 365 × 0.80 efficiency Self-consumption = Annual kWh × 40% (without battery) Self-consumption savings = Self-consumed kWh × GTQ 1.40/kWh Net metering export = Exported kWh × GTQ 1.40/kWh (1:1 retail, CNEE 227-2014) System cost = kWp × GTQ 8,000–12,000/kWp (~$1,000–1,550/kWp) Payback = Total cost ÷ Annual benefit (typically 5–7yr with net metering)

Guatemala's Comisión Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (CNEE) regulates the electricity sector. The Generación Distribuida scheme allows residential and commercial users to connect solar to the EEGSA grid (Guatemala City metropolitan area) or Energuate (rest of the country) with 1:1 net metering for up to 500kW systems. Guatemala has a target of 80% renewable electricity by 2027, primarily hydro and geothermal, with solar growing rapidly in the residential and commercial segments.

Example

Sofia — Antigua tourism guesthouse, 8kWp with net metering

Sofia runs a boutique guesthouse in Antigua with a monthly EEGSA bill of GTQ 900. She installs an 8kWp system under the Generación Distribuida scheme for full 1:1 net metering benefit.

Monthly billGTQ 900
Department / PSHAntigua, 5.0 PSH
System size8 kWp
Net meteringYes — Generación Distribuida 1:1

Result

Annual production~11,680 kWh/yr
Production per kWp~1,460 kWh/kWp/yr
Self-consumption savings~GTQ 6,540/yr
Net metering export credit~GTQ 9,810/yr
Total annual benefit~GTQ 16,352/yr
System cost~GTQ 64,000–96,000
Payback~4.9–5.9 years
25-year net savings~GTQ 328,800

Antigua's combination of 5.0 PSH, GTQ 1.40/kWh retail rate, and 1:1 net metering creates outstanding solar economics. The tourism sector typically has good daytime load matching (cleaning, kitchen, pools) that maximizes self-consumption. The 1:1 export credit means Sofia's solar is effectively valued at retail rate regardless of when her guests use power. A 5–6 year payback for a 25-year asset is excellent return.

FAQ

Yes — Guatemala is one of Central America's best solar markets. Electricity prices of GTQ 1.00–1.80/kWh (~$0.13–0.23 USD), good solar radiation (4.7–5.4 PSH), and excellent 1:1 net metering under Generación Distribuida make payback typically 5–7 years for residential systems and 4–6 years for commercial. The Antigua, Guatemala City, and coastal commercial markets have seen significant solar adoption. Tourism properties with high daytime loads are particularly well-suited.
Guatemala's Generación Distribuida scheme (CNEE Resolution 227-2014) allows solar system owners to connect to the EEGSA or Energuate grid and receive 1:1 net metering at the retail rate for systems up to 500kW. Every kWh you export is credited at the same rate you pay for imports. Monthly excess credits can be carried forward. To connect, you need a certified electrical engineer to design the system, CNEE approval for the installation, and a bidirectional meter installed by your distribution company. The process typically takes 1–3 months.
Escuintla (5.4 PSH) on the Pacific coastal plain is Guatemala's sunniest department. Petén (5.3 PSH) in the northern lowlands follows closely. Quetzaltenango (5.2 PSH) and Huehuetenango (5.1 PSH) in the highlands are also excellent. Guatemala City and Antigua (both 5.0 PSH) have the largest urban solar markets. Cobán (4.7 PSH) receives less sun due to its cloud forest climate but is still viable for solar.
Installed solar in Guatemala costs approximately GTQ 8,000–12,000 per kWp (~$1,000–1,550 USD/kWp). A typical 5kWp home system costs GTQ 40,000–60,000. Commercial 15–20kWp systems run GTQ 120,000–240,000. Guatemala has a growing local installer market with companies importing from China and the US. Most residential systems are financed through bank loans at 8–12% annual interest. CNEE certification of the installer and system is required for Generación Distribuida connection.

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