# The common use terms for the size of an installation **URL:** https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/t/the-common-use-terms-for-the-size-of-an-installation/2018 **Category:** Solar Panels **Created:** [November 16, 2021, 5:30pm UTC](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/t/the-common-use-terms-for-the-size-of-an-installation/2018 "2021-11-16T17:30:11Z") **Posts on this page:** 1 **Showing post:** 2
### Author: ![Marty](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/user_avatar/forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/marty/32/4032_2.png) [@Marty](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/u/Marty) #### Post date: [November 19, 2021, 11:21pm UTC](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/t/the-common-use-terms-for-the-size-of-an-installation/2018/2 "2021-11-19T23:21:45Z")
> [@dicktrimmer5544](#): > > How should we best describe the ‘size’ of a house installation? Hi @dicktrimmer5544 We would describe that in kW. We don’t really use the term “kW peak” in normal parlance in the Australian residential solar industry, but you are correct, that it what we are referring to. The 6.5kW and 10kW figures we refer to are “peak”, which is to say the cumulative nominal figure of all the panels installed on the roof, I.e an installation with 18 x 370W panels would be referred to as a 6.66kW system. We have this post to explain the difference between kW and kWh > [@zap Solar Power vs Solar Energy - kW & kWh explained](https://perform.discoursehosting.net/t/solar-power-vs-solar-energy-kw-kwh-explained/552): > > zapzapzap Power vs Energy For anyone that wants to know, and to over simplify it: Electrical power is how much a solar system produces at any given time, and it is measured in W (a kW is 1000W). A solar system’s potential power is also measured in kW - i.e. a 10kW system is a system with panels that can produce up to (and sometimes slightly more than) 10kW of DC electricity. Electrical energy is measured in Wh (a kWh is 1000 Wh). The amount of electricity that you use at home is measur… Cheers Marty --- _[View the full topic](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/t/the-common-use-terms-for-the-size-of-an-installation/2018)._