How Many Solar Panels Do You Need
A typical home would require between 20 and 25 solar panels to meet 100 percent of its power demands. The exact quantity youll need varies on a variety of criteria, including your location, panel efficiency, rated power, and personal energy usage patterns. Importantly, the quantity of solar panels you require for your home has a direct bearing on the cost of solar.
Examine previous utility bills to estimate your homes usual energy consumption. You can figure out how many solar panels youll need by calculating your households hourly energy demand by your areas peak sunshine hours and dividing by the wattage of each panel. To define a range, use a low-wattage and a high-wattage example . Its important to keep in mind that the size of your roof and the amount of sunshine it receives are both important considerations.
Thankfully, if you use a professional solar panel company, they will handle all of these calculations for you and you can rest assured they will do it right.
How Can Solar Help My Household
The potential to save money is often the fundamental reason why people add solar, and rightly so. It makes sense to choose a solution that can deliver a reliable power supply to your home, at a reduced price.
Solar meets the majority of power needs for New Zealand homes, but usually not all of them. For this reason, most customers choose a hybrid model that combines conventional power , and solar power.
This option gives you control, with back-up from the main electricity grid when you need it. In addition to that, if you go for a system with a battery storage option, your solar system will also store excess power that can be used during low daylight times.
A hybrid solar system enables you to maximise your power bill savings as energy generated from your solar panels is used first. Therefore, you only use electricity from the grid when you need it.
Best Ways To Save Money With Solar Energy
Energy costs in the U.S. are steadily rising. What are you doing to cut down on your expenditures? Going solar is a great alternative for both cost and environmental reasons.
Whether you plan to partially run off of solar or want to truly be off-the-grid, solar power is now a feasible power solution for small and big homes alike.
With that said, lets get started.
Heres a list of the 10 best ways to save money with solar energy for 2021.
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How Much Does Solar Energy Save Each Month
The biggest benefit to installing solar is that you can save hundreds of dollars on your electric bill. This is especially true if you purchase and install a system that gives you complete control of your home. Many people have been able to get their utility bills to $0 a month.
If I were to use that to my benefit, my family would save roughly $200-$250 a month in electric costs .
Estimate How Long It Will Take To Pay Off Your Solar Panels
First, multiply your solar panel cost by 0.26, which is the tax credit you receive for installing your system. If you spend $20,000 on it initially, your tax credit is $5,200. That takes your initial investment down to $14,800.
Now, let’s factor in energy savings. Divide your initial investment by the $1,500 you typically pay the electric company per year that’s how long it’ll take for your savings to equal the amount you spend. Using the example above, you’d divide your initial investment of $14,800 by $1,500: The result is a payback period of just under 10 years.
That might seem like a long time on the surface, but solar panels can easily last 25 years.
You can further expedite your payback period by selling renewable energy certificates, or RECs. These are measured in megawatt hours of electricity that come from a renewable source. Electric companies must purchase some electricity from renewable sources, meaning you could save more by selling energy generated by your solar panels.
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Australia Is A World Leader In The Adoption Of Residential And Business Solar Panels
The annualised growth rate of solar panels is expected to continue at 19.56% and according to the South Australian Government’s climate Action Plan, the goal of reaching 500% of energy needs with solar by 2050 is highly achievable. This will align with the targets set by the Paris Climate Agreement to combat climate change and position South Australia to be a national or international exporter of solar power.
Go Sunny Solar understand the importance and benefits of clean energy and provide bespoke solar systems installed by experienced professionals. Lets dive into some basics of how a Solar Power system works.
Which States Save The Most Money With Solar Panels
We know that installing solar panels on your home is a way to cut your electricity bill and save money. The more electricity your family uses on average, and the more extensive your solar system, the more money you can keep in the long run. In fact, in some regions, you may even be able to generate more solar electricity than you need and sell the excess back to the power company for a small profit.
To calculate how much money you could save each month by having solar panels, first take a look at your electricity bill to see how much electricity your household uses on average. Next, multiply that number by the average electricity rate your energy supplier is charging you. You can look at how much you spend on electricity each month and annually. The average household in the U.S. uses around 10,649 kWh per year. The average residential rate per kWh of electricity in the U.S. was $0.1331 as of December of 2021. That would mean that the average household in the U.S. will pay around $1,417 for their electricity in 2021. These calculations are based solely on the national residential averages of rate per kWh and energy consumption7.
Some regions and states in the U.S. see electricity rates far above the national average. In those states, if the climate is agreeable, installing solar panels can save even more money each year and allow a homeowner to see a return on their investment much quicker.
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What Is Solar Power For The Home
Homeowners who install photovoltaic power systems receive numerous benefits: lower electric bills, lower carbon footprints, and potentially higher home values. But these benefits typically come with significant installation and maintenance costs, and the magnitude of the gains can vary widely from one house to another. This article will help homeowners make the financial calculations required to determine the viability of solar power in their homes.
Great For The Environment
Solar energy doesnt require combustible fuels or connection to an electrical grid. All you need is a good amount of natural sunlight.
No pollution, no risk of carbon monoxide leaking, and no need for being tethered to a municipal power grid if you so choose.
Not being reliant on fossil fuels also means that youll be reducing your overall carbon footprint. Environmentally-conscious choices help humanity and our future generations to inherit a cleaner planet and one worth respecting.
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How Solar Can Save You Money
As explained in my previous article, the biggest reason homeowners are switching to solar is to save money on their electric bill.
Yep, going solar is not only beneficial for the environment, its also beneficial for your bank account!
But HOW does solar save you so much money?
To answer that question, lets take a look at four points that make solar a good investment.
What Affects Cost Savings With Solar Panels
The main factor that affects cost savings when it comes to solar panels is the size of the solar system. The larger the system, the larger the savings. At a certain point, an extensive enough solar system can produce enough electricity to power the entire home with energy to spare. In that case, the surplus can be sold back to the power company. Although large solar systems have more significant cost savings, you still must consider that a more extensive solar system will have a higher upfront cost3.
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One More Important Thing To Know
Some factors could increase your payback period. Before installing solar panels, you need to inspect the condition of your roof. Panels can last 25 years, so if your roof is not in tip-top shape, you might have to make improvements before installing solar panels. If this applies to you, make sure to add these costs to your initial investment.
Overall, solar power can be an expensive proposition, especially with the upfront costs. However, the long-term efficiency they provide can more than offset the initial investment, leading to savings for years to come.
Learn What You Truly Need
Along with getting multiple quotes, youll also need to figure out what your home truly needs. For example, based on your consumption, you may need a bigger system. Or, if your roof is of a certain type, you may need different panels.
When getting quotes, make sure to listen to what youre getting for the price. And dont be afraid to ask questions and get clarity on what your home really needs to be self-sustaining.
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Can You Earn Money From Solar Panels
The governments feed-in tariff scheme closed to new applicants on 31 March 2019. However, households that installed a solar panel system before this date and successfully applied for the scheme can still benefit.
The scheme offers cash payments to households generating their own energy through solar panels and other renewable technology.
Those who dont qualify for the feed-in tariff can apply for the Smart Export Guarantee scheme which was launched at the start of 2020. Through the scheme, you can be paid for any excess renewable energy you export back to the National Grid.
All licensed energy suppliers with 150,000 or more customers must provide at least one Smart Export Guarantee tariff, while smaller suppliers can offer a tariff voluntarily.
You will be eligible for the SEG scheme if you generate electricity through solar PV panels as well as any of the following:
- Wind turbine
- Hydro
- Anaerobic digestion where organic material is broken down in the absence of oxygen to produce biogas which can then be used as a fuel
- Micro combined heat and power where heat and electricity are generated simultaneously from the same energy source.
Your installation will need to be 5MW capacity or less, or 50MW for micro combined heat and power. It must also be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme or equivalent.
In addition, you will need to have a meter fitted that can provide half-hourly readings so that your supplier knows how much electricity you are exporting.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost
How much you pay to have solar panels fitted will depend on the size of your roof and the type of system you choose. Having solar panels installed isnt cheap, but costs have fallen over the years and for some people its a small price to pay for the environmental benefits it brings.
According to online service Green Match, one of the most common choices is a 4kW solar panel system which consists of 16 panels and requires around 29 square metres of roof space. This should generate enough energy for a family home , although you may still need to use energy from the Grid.
Costs for a system of this size are between £6,000 and £8,000, but in return you could save around £270 on your annual electricity bill.
A cheaper option is a 3kW solar panel system which consists of 12 solar panels and requires around 22 square metres of roof space. Costs come in at between £5,000 and £6,000, but savings are also lower at around £160 per year.
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Why Install Solar Panels At Home
Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the need to use green or renewable energy. New research from Citizens Advice reveals that two-thirds of householders are thinking about making their homes more energy-efficient in the next 12 months, while in a study from NatWest 55% of homeowners said they have plans to make eco-friendly improvements to their property over the next decade.
Solar and wind are now the lowest cost ways to generate electricity and, unlike other more traditional types of energy, they won’t run out. It’s not surprising, then, that fitting solar panels on the roofs of domestic properties is a popular home improvement, with an estimated one million systems on houses across the UK. They are not cheap, but in the longer term they should help cut your electricity bills as well as your carbon footprint, while you also get paid for the extra energy you generate.
Ways Solar Energy Will Save You Money
Posted by Tiffany Wilson on November 20, 2015
A solar energy consultant shares not only how using solar energy can cut your electricity costs, but how it actually might make you money.
JACKSONVILLE, Florida–Harold Schroeder had enough of paying $200 to $300 a month for his electric bill.
The Northeast Florida retiree decided it was time to take matters into his own hands. He hired a solar company. Jacksonville, Florida’s A1A Solar Contracting Inc., to install solar panels on his house, and his monthly bills disappeared.
“This month, I paid $4 for electric,” he said when he stopped by at the A1A Solar booth at the Jacksonville Home + Patio Show Thursday.
Solar Consultant Arthur McCoy said that’s typical for the company’s clients, and that’s just one of the ways they save – and even make – money by using solar panels. Here are 5 ways McCoy said you can save money by adding solar power to your rural home:
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Reduce Your Electricity Use
During daylight hours, youll be generating electricity even on cloudy days, but if youre using more power around your home than your panels are generating, or during the evening when your panels are not generating any electricity, youll be supplementing this by importing electricity from the grid.
Reducing your electricity use can help lower your bills and reduce your carbon footprint. If youre claiming a Smart Export Guarantee tariff, youll receive a payment for every unit of electricity you export. Remember to turn devices off and avoid standby.
See our energy saving quick wins for more tips to reduce your energy use.
Q: What Is Net Metering And How Does Net Metering Save You Money
A: When solar panels are installed on a home, the home still remains tied to the electric grid and has access to net metering. During high production months like spring and summer, solar panels generally operate at maximum capacity, producing more energy than you can consume in a given month.
When you produce excess energy, your system sends that electricity to the grid and every kilowatt-hour you send back will be recorded on your bill as an energy credit. These energy credits are used at times when your system is not producing the energy you need, such as during the winter.
Want to Learn More?
If youre ready to start saving on your electric bill schedule a virtual consultation with us today!
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Do You Have Enough Sunshine To Make Solar Panels Worthwhile
The second step to seeing if solar energy could save you money, is to evaluate your sunlight exposure.
- Some states, like Arizona, California, and Texas will produce more energy, creating more solar power and offering bigger savings potential.
- But other states, like North Dakota or Alaska, may not see as much sun, especially in the winter months. So this would shorten your potential savings.
How Solar Water Heating Saves You Money
Most people associate solar energy with solar panels, but you can also use the sun’s energy to heat water, helping you save money on your utility bills.
The idea behind solar water heaters is pretty simple: Sunshine that hits water in black tubes or surfaces gets hot.
Now, imagine all the hot water you use around the house, from the hot morning shower to that cup of coffee. What if you could have all the hot water your family needs without the accompanying utility bills? With solar water heating, you can.
In this article, we explore solar water heating. What is it? How does it work? How does it save you money? What must you consider before installing a water heating system? Stick around were about to shave off some bucks from your monthly budget.
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Solar Power Increases Your Home Value
“When you have solar panels, the value of your home increases because buyers know they will have a reduced electric bill,” McCoy said.
According to A1A Solar’s data, the average solar panel investment increases home resale value by about 3.5 percent. The valuation increase is exempt from taxes in most states, including Florida
