5 kWp in Brașov — how many kWh it produces month by month
By Fotovol·Updated 18 May 2026
Short answer
A 5 kWp solar system in Brașov county produces between 5,500 and 5,900 kWh/year under decent conditions — south-southeast orientation, 30°-35° tilt, no shading. That's an average of ~480 kWh/month, but the seasonal variation is huge: July can produce 800 kWh, December under 150 kWh.
The baseline figure: 1,152 kWh/kWp/year — the official PVGIS value (European Commission Joint Research Centre) for Brașov-capital, with standard production for a fixed system facing south at optimal tilt. It's below the national average (~1,275 kWh/kWp/year for Bucharest), because Brașov has more partly-cloudy days and a mountain microclimate.
Month-by-month production (5 kWp, fixed south system)
| Month | Estimated kWh | % of annual | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 195 | 3.4% | short days, low sun |
| February | 315 | 5.5% | growth becomes visible |
| March | 450 | 7.8% | equinox, ~15h of light |
| April | 590 | 10.2% | "PV buyer" production |
| May | 705 | 12.2% | spring peak |
| June | 760 | 13.2% | long days + sun at 60° |
| July | 800 | 13.9% | annual maximum |
| August | 700 | 12.2% | close to June |
| September | 555 | 9.6% | steady decline |
| October | 365 | 6.3% | equinox + foggy days |
| November | 220 | 3.8% | frequent clouds |
| December | 140 | 2.4% | solstice, shortest days |
| Annual total | 5,795 | 100% |
Why the monthly numbers matter: if you charge an EV or have a heat pump, December-January production (under 200 kWh/month combined) doesn't cover the winter consumption. The summer surplus (over 700 kWh/month for 4 months) rolls over via net-metering to offset the weak months.
Scaled to other system sizes
For the same Brașov county, other capacities:
| System | Annual production | Average month | Consumption equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kWp | ~3,500 kWh | 290 kWh | 2-person apartment + AC |
| 5 kWp | ~5,800 kWh | 480 kWh | 3-4 person house no EV |
| 7 kWp | ~8,100 kWh | 675 kWh | 4-5 person house + 1 EV |
| 10 kWp | ~11,500 kWh | 960 kWh | large house + EV + heat pump |
Heads up: bigger isn't always better. See 5 prosumer mistakes — oversizing in hopes of selling surplus to the state is the costliest mistake. Size for your consumption + foreseeable additions (EV, heat pump), not on the surplus-profit idea.
How production translates to bill savings
5,800 kWh/year at current tariff (~1.20 RON/kWh in May 2026 for average residential customers) means ~6,960 RON of annual production value. But real savings depend on how much you self-consume vs inject:
- House with 1:1 net-metering: if your annual consumption is ≥ production, all 5,800 kWh get 1:1 compensation. Real savings ≈ production × tariff. For a house with 4,500 kWh/year consumption, only 4,500 kWh get compensated (5,400 RON saved), and the remaining 1,300 kWh either rolls over in the compensation balance for subsequent years or gets monetised at the supplier's buy-back price (~0.40 RON/kWh = another 520 RON).
- House with consumption higher than production (e.g., 8,000 kWh/year): all 5,800 kWh compensated directly. Net savings ≈ 6,960 RON/year, the best math.
For the exact numbers at your tariff and your consumption, use the payback calculator or the capacity calculator.
Why you might get less (or more) than 5,800 kWh
PVGIS standard assumes ideal conditions. Reality brings significant variation:
- Roof orientation: pure south = 100% baseline; south-east / south-west = ~95%; pure east or west = ~85%; north = below 60%. For south-west, estimated production drops to ~5,500 kWh/year.
- Roof tilt: for Brașov (latitude 45.6°), optimal fixed is 32°. Tilt 20° = ~96%; 45° = ~98%; horizontal (0°) = ~85%. Standard Romanian roofs at 30-35° are close to optimal.
- Shading: even 10% of panel surface shaded a few hours a day drops production by ~15-20%, not just 10% — the inverter reduces output on the affected string. Check panels in the morning (shadow from forest / neighbour building) and afternoon (chimney, antenna).
- Temperature: panels lose ~0.4% per °C above 25°C cell temperature. At 60°C on the August roof, derating ~14% for that hour. Cumulative annual: ~5% thermal loss.
- Dust / snow: dust buildup reduces output by 3-5% monthly without rain; snow blocks production entirely a few days per year in Brașov.
All these factors combined explain why a real Brașov installation produces 5,500-5,900 kWh instead of the 5,760 calculated "on paper".
How Brașov compares to neighbouring counties
Brașov has distinct climate zones — the Bârsa basin (capital), mountain areas (Predeal, Râșnov), and hill areas (south, toward Făgăraș). Production varies within the county by ~5-7%:
| County | kWh/kWp/year | 5 kWp produces |
|---|---|---|
| Brașov (capital) | 1,152 | 5,760 kWh |
| Sibiu (west neighbour) | ~1,180 | ~5,900 kWh |
| Covasna (east neighbour) | ~1,120 | ~5,600 kWh |
| Mureș (north neighbour) | ~1,190 | ~5,950 kWh |
| Argeș (south, over the mountains) | ~1,210 | ~6,050 kWh |
The 10% gap between the best county (Argeș) and Brașov comes from the number of clear-sun days — Brașov has a microclimate with more cumulus cloud cover from the surrounding terrain.
Concrete steps for your own system
The numbers above are indicative. For your specific system:
- Estimate exact production with the calculator — pick Brașov county, your desired capacity, and include foreseeable additions (EV, heat pump).
- Verify payback with the payback calculator at your current tariff.
- For a concrete install figure, request a quote from AFM-verified firms — the installer measures the actual orientation, tilt, and any shading on your roof.
To avoid common sizing mistakes, see 5 prosumer mistakes and prosumer regrets after 2 years. For legal context on surplus compensation, see what is a prosumer.