Despite all their hard work during the day, solar panels rest at night. Let's say your property gets four hours of sunshine a day and you buy 325 watt solar panels. In that case, each panel can generate 1300 watt-hours per day (or 1.3 kWh). Assuming your energy consumption is in line with the average of 29 kWh per day, you will need 23 325 watt panels to generate enough electricity for your home.
On average, a house with a monthly electricity consumption of 1000 kWh requires 26 to 30 solar panels (each solar panel is 320 watts). To imagine how solar energy can provide enough energy for an entire house, it is necessary to cover the basics a little. Let's look at three key factors that determine how many solar panels you need to power your home, as well as an example of how to calculate the size of your system. While the initial costs of a residential solar system may seem high, there are several ways to save money on your investment.
Add energy consumption data for the last 12 months and divide by 12 to get your home's average monthly energy consumption. With a background in environmental and geological sciences, Jacob brings an analytical perspective and passion for conservation to help solar energy buyers make the right energy choices for their pocket and the environment. Understanding how much electricity you use in an average year, month and day is key to estimating the number of solar panels you need. Solar panels have swept the world over the past decade, and their popularity doesn't seem to be diminishing anytime soon.
While some panels will have higher efficiency rates than others, investing in top-of-the-line solar equipment doesn't always generate greater savings on your utility bills. For example, if you have tall trees that create shade on your roof, your solar panels won't produce as much energy as if they were under a clear sky. In comparison, a comparable home in Massachusetts needs an 8.2 kW system to meet its energy needs. Most solar systems are intentionally designed to produce more energy than your home needs during the day.
Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of sizing a solar array is estimating the annual amount of energy consumption of your home. Depending on the electricity prices, your energy needs, your desire to be green, and the geographical location of your home, it is definitely worth installing solar panels. Understanding production rates, the relationship between system size and number of panels, and the impact of home size can all be important when designing the ideal solar panel configuration.
