Do you want to lower your carbon footprint and even live grid free? Solar panels can provide these and many more benefits.
Thanks to improved affordability, the installation of residential solar panels are surging. So much so that Q1 2022 saw a 30% increase in solar panel installation compared to last year.
A common question homeowners have about installing solar panels is how many they need. This varies depending on whether you want to meet all or part of your energy needs with solar.
But regardless of which option you’re aiming for, there are three aspects to consider. Keep reading to find out how many solar panels you’ll need for your home.
Calculate Your Home’s Energy Usage
First, you must work out how much electricity your household uses daily. This will vary with the seasons and the size of your family. The types of appliances and how often they are used also affect your electricity usage.
The easiest way to calculate your energy usage is to keep track of energy bills. Take a daily average for each season, and you will have your energy use in kilowatt hours (kWh). Now you know how much electricity your solar panels should produce to meet your needs.
Estimate How Much Sun Your Home Gets
The next information you need is how much sunshine the solar panels will get. The average hours of sun per day vary with the seasons and location. For example, California and Arizona get more sunshine than Connecticut.
Although you can’t change the location of your home, you can install solar panels in the sunniest spot. You can also choose the best solar panels to maximize output from available sunshine.
Consider the Solar Panel’s Power Rating
The last part of the equation is the power output of the solar panels. The rating is expressed in watts; most panels produce 250 to 400 watts of power. Multiply the watts rating by the average hour of sunshine to get daily output per panel.
If you live in areas with less sunshine or have limited space, it’s worth installing solar panels with higher watt ratings. This way, you can maximize output to meet your needs.
Determine How Many Solar Panels Your Home Needs
Once you have the above information, you can estimate the number of solar panels your house needs. Start by multiplying the watts of your chosen solar panels by the estimated hours of sunshine per day.
Then, divide your daily kWh usage by the watt-hours of the panels calculated above. The result is the estimated number of solar panels you need for your house.
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Start Installing Solar Panels
Installing solar panels is an upfront investment. But, you will reap the benefits for many years. You will secure your energy needs and might even be able to sell excess electricity. All this while reducing your environmental impact.
For most homes, 20 to 25 solar panels are enough to meet all energy needs. Use our calculation method to get a more accurate estimate.
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