There are many factors that you must consider when deciding on how many solar panel panels you will need to power your house. These include the peak sun hours, daily energy use, and the cost. Once you have these numbers, you can determine how many panels you'll need.
Calculating the required number of solar cells to power a home
The size of the solar panels that you will need to power your home depends on several factors, including how much space they'll take up on your roof. A typical American home will need 20 panels to generate approximately 900 kilowatts per month. Because most American homes don’t get six hours of direct sun daily, it’s difficult to calculate the number of solar panels needed to cover your home.
Analyzing your utility bills is a simple way to find out how many solar panels your home will need. Add up your monthly utility bills to calculate how much electricity is being used. Divide by twelve. Once you have this information, you can get a rough idea of how many solar panel you will need to cover the entire house.
Peak sun hours
The most fundamental question when designing a solar power system is "How many panels do I need?" This question is dependent on the season and where you live. The sun will shine more during the day the closer you live the equator. California has more peak solar hours than Washington. So if building a system for your Washington home you will need a larger one than if building in California.
Depending on where you live, you can expect between three and five peak sun hours per day. The time of the day and latitude will also affect the number of peak hours. The peak sun hours in most parts of the United States last around three to five hours.
Daily energy consumption
Solar panels' average daily energy consumption is determined by how many hours they receive sunlight. During the peak hours of sunlight, a solar panel can produce up to 1 kilowatt hour of energy. A 250-watt panel could produce 30 kWh per month. Similar results would be achieved by a 350-watt panel producing 42 kWh per month. These figures are an average, and can change depending on the house's size and location.
The location of the solar panels will affect how much energy they consume each day. For instance, in the northeast of the United States, the days are shorter than in the southwest. Residents in these areas will need to have more solar panels installed than those who live in sunny regions. In addition, the efficiency of solar panels depends on the design. The conversion rate per square foot of solar panels is the efficiency.
Cost
It can be very expensive to install solar panels on a home. A ten-kilowatt solar system can run you about $70,000. This system is affordable if you live where there is high energy use. Otherwise, costs can reach $8000.
Talk to a professional contractor to find out the cost of installing solar panels. It's helpful to have your electric bill on hand to make sure the contractor understands your exact energy needs. The kilowatt-hours you use each month will be a good estimate for the number of panels you need.
Off-grid and on-grid alternatives
Consider many factors when you are considering solar panels to power your home. The system size and the type of solar panel can have a significant impact on both cost and return. These decisions can be made by a professional solar installer. It is also a good idea to do your research so you can make an informed choice.
To store excess electricity, off-grid solar systems use batteries. This stored energy can then be accessed even in the middle of the night. These systems can be scaled to provide enough energy to power your entire day. Unfortunately, the system can not meet its initial goals because of weather changes.