As the cost of solar equipment goes down, more individuals are seriously thinking about putting an installation up in their home. However a photovoltaic panel installation for a complete home solar power system isn’t cheap. It’s a serious investment, so it is very important to get the setup right.
The only problem is, the majority of people are totally brand-new to solar energy so determining how things should be set up isn’t always clear. One of the greatest concerns is how many solar panels will be needed to power the home. Did you understand the size of your home isn’t the most crucial aspect when you’re trying to determine panel count?
Yep, there are a few other things that matter a great deal more, which’s what we’re discussing in today’s post. Continue reading to discover precisely what ought to be factored into the photovoltaic panel formula.
How Accurate Are Solar Energy Calculators?
Let’s talk a moment about solar power calculators. The most convenient way to find out the number of photovoltaic panels you require is to utilize a solar energy calculator. While a calculator can provide you an excellent concept of the number of solar panels you’ll need, it’s going to be simply that– a rough quote.
One of the greatest takeaways from solar energy calculators is getting a take a look at what aspects are being thought about. It can offer instructions for analyzing your individual requirements and getting a more accurate estimate. Instead of generic measurements, you’ll be using precise numbers specific to your house and energy requirements.
So, what steps should you require to figure out the number of photovoltaic panels will be needed? There are 5 things you need to do to get a much better count.
Evaluate Your Electricity Costs
The first thing you must do is take a look at your electric costs over the in 2015. It is essential to analyze your energy usage throughout all 4 seasons. Determine where the peaks are due to the fact that your solar panels will need to produce adequate energy to fulfill your greatest need.
Something to look for is whether your year-over-year energy use is going up, down or staying the exact same. If it’s trending upward you’ll want to seriously think about adding sufficient panels to produce more energy than you currently need so it’s adequate for future demand.
Some Particular Things to Note Include:
- Typical energy use in kilowatt-hours
- Hourly, day-to-day and weekly
- Peak energy use
- Energy usage in watts
Lots of people mistakenly think the square video of their home is a factor. House size isn’t that crucial because it does not identify energy usage. It’s highly prominent, but in reality a home that’s 1,000 square foot could utilize the same quantity of energy as a 2,000 square foot house.
Nevertheless, one physical characteristic that can come into play is the size of the roof.
How energy is used in the home is far more crucial relatively. To make the most precise estimate you’ll wish to discover the daily average energy usage. Add 25% to that to guarantee your energy requirements are covered at all times.
FUN FACT: The typical American home uses 900 kWh of electricity monthly.
Look Into the Sun Direct Exposure and Climate
You can’t record solar energy unless you have a great sunny spot for the panels. Environment also plays an important function in solar panel efficiency. Certain weather conditions lower the performance of panels, which needs to be factored into the calculations.
Resources like Weather.com and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory can provide you with some difficult numbers, like the average number of days there’s sunlight in your area, typical snowfall/rainfall and the average temperatures.
Peak sunshine hours is especially important. Keep in mind, the day-to-day average is going to vary based upon the time of year. In general, the sunnier an area is the fewer number of panels will be needed.
Research the Types and Sizes of the Panels You Use
Early adopters of solar energy had far fewer choices than today’s consumers in terms of panels. An entire post or two can be composed just on the various types of solar panels that are offered today and how they impact energy generation.
The two crucial things to consider is the size and performance of the panels. The wattage of a panel (varieties from 150-370 watts) largely depends on these 2 aspects. Cell technology and building also makes a distinction.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that the more efficient a photovoltaic panel is the more wattage it produces. Greater wattage per panel suggests fewer panels are required.
Putting It All Together
Here’s an estimation that can be used once you’ve gathered the info above.
Household Hourly Energy Requirement x Peak Sunlight Hours/ Panel Wattage = Number Of Solar Panels Needed
Talk with a Couple of Professionals
Once you have a much better idea of what goes into solar arrays and your home’s requirements, it’s a good time to schedule assessments with a minimum of 2-3 solar business. They’ll wish to analyze your residential or commercial property and the sun exposure to determine what type of solar power setup is possible.
One of the most crucial things to review is the kinds of solar panels that can be used. The business should make recommendations based upon all of the elements noted above.
Do you desire your home to be completely solar powered? Talk through your expectations so that the solar companies understand what you want to achieve.