Solar Panel Sizing Advice: This Is How to Choose the Right Solar Panel System Size
The average solar installation in the USA now costs 70% less than it did ten years ago, thanks to advancements in this field.
Despite this, you can still expect to layout around $2.51 and $3.31 per watt of solar power you install. From this, it’s clear that the key to saving on your installation depends on the size panels you install.
Installing the wrong solar panel system size may leave you without the power you need. Or you could end up paying for a system that’s much more expensive than necessary.
For this reason, it’s vital to answer the question, ‘how many solar panels do I need’ before you start shopping around.
Solar Panel System Buying Tips
Despite the obvious solar energy savings, like federal incentives and other rebates, there’s one more way to save on your solar panel installation.
Since the number of panels you’ll need depends entirely on your home’s electricity consumption, you can also save when you cut down on this before you install solar panels.
You can do this by installing LED lighting throughout your home and replacing some of your electrical appliances with gas-powered ones. Energy-star rated appliances will also help you use less electricity in your home.
Any appliance that uses a heating element to function requires more energy to run. When you cut down on these appliances, you’ll slash your electricity bills, too.
Once you’ve decreased your home’s energy consumption as much as you can, you can revisit the question, ‘what size solar panels do I need?’.
Determining Solar Panel Energy Output
Take a look at your latest energy bill. You’ll find your energy consumption for the month or year-to-date listed in kilowatt-hours. From there, it’s an easy calculation to arrive at a figure for your average daily electricity usage.
Next, you should visit the National Solar Radiation Database website to find out the average daily peak sun hours for your location.
You should add about 35% to your daily energy consumption to account for solar panel and inverter efficiencies, as well as variables like shade.
Divide this figure by your area’s average daily irradiation to get a figure in kW for your daily needs, usually around 8 or 9kW per hour.
Manufacturers rate their solar panels according to how much solar energy they produce per hour. So, your final figure divided by the wattage rating of each panel will indicate the number of panels you need.
So, if you must generate 9kW per hour, and you’re looking at panels rated for 300 watts, that’s 9kw/300 equals 30 solar panels.
The more powerful panels naturally cost more, but you’ll need fewer of them.
Find the Best Solar Panel System Size Solutions
If math isn’t your strong suit, you can find solar panel sizing calculators online. For best results, rather work with experienced solar panel installers when calculating your solar requirements.
They’re qualified to help you find the most efficient solar panel system size according to your circumstances.
Are you curious to discover more ways to manage your home efficiently for added savings? Browse our blog for all the best home improvement advice and tips.
