How Many Solar Panels Does It Take To Make 2000 Kwh A Month
The number of solar panels depends upon the peak hours of sunlight in your region and the type of panel you use. For a 2000kWh monthly load at a region where sunlight peak hours per day are 7 hours, you will have to install 31 panels of 360 watts.As it would require at average 66.667kWh per day and converting that into watts it becomes 66,667 watts, then we will have to divide that from sunlight peak hours, which we assumed 6 hours. So we get that 11,111 watts and then divide that with the wattage of your solar panel, which we assumed at 360 watts. That requires 31 solar panels of 360 watts.
How Many Hours Of Sunlight Can You Expect In Your Area
The peak sunlight hours for your particular location will have a direct impact on the energy you can expect your home solar system to produce. For example, if you live in Phoenix you can expect to have a greater number of peak sunlight hours than if you lived in Seattle. That doesnt mean a Seattle homeowner cant go solar it just means the homeowner would need more panels.
The Renewable Resource Data Center provides sunlight information by state and for major cities.
Now multiply your hourly usage by 1,000 to convert your hourly power generation need to watts. Divide your average hourly wattage requirement by the number of daily peak sunlight hours for your area. This gives you the amount of energy your panels need to produce every hour. So the average U.S. home in an area that gets five peak sunlight hours per day would need 6,000 watts.
How Many Kwh Can Your Solar Panels Produce The Complexities Of Production Ratios
The amount of power your solar energy system can produce depends on how much sunlight exposure your roof receives, which in turn creates your production ratio. The amount of sunlight you get in a year depends on both where you are in the country, and what time of year it is. For instance, California has more sunny days annually than New England. But in either location, youll be able to produce enough power to cover your energy needs and say goodbye to your utility billsif you live in an area that gets less peak sunlight hours, youll just need to have a larger solar array system installed at your home. Thus, production ratios differ according to geographic location and a lower production ratio means youll need more solar panels to get the amount of energy production you need.
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Or Will You What Can Affect Solar Panel Output Efficiency
The Standard Test Condition rating is based on ideal conditions converting the suns energy into power. But the solar system itself is not 100 percent efficient in converting the energy into power.
- A solar system requires an inverter to convert the Direct Current power the photovoltaic cells receive from the sun to Alternating Current power used in our homes. Power is lost as it goes through the inverter, which can be a single inverter per system, or a single inverter per solar panel. It is estimated that about three percent of electricity is lost passing through the inverter.
- Different materials used to manufacture the cells can resist the flow of electricity as can resistance passing through the cables.
- Inevitably, solar panels will pick up grime and dirt from the atmosphere, blocking full sunshine.
- Temperature can effectively create power losses as well. While it seems that a hot, sunny local would be ideal, the fact is that the STC is based on a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius . The flow of electrons across the photovoltaic cells is not as efficient at higher temperatures. All in all, solar companies estimate a de-rating factor of around 20 percent.
Be aware that system sizes are calculated inversely in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Thus, a typical 1 kWh system in the UK is estimated to produce 850 kWh unit per year, a 2 kWh would create around 1,700 kWh units per year and a 5 kWh system is estimated to create 4,500 kWh .
What Is The Effect Of Solar Panel Size
If you have a small or unusually shaped roof, solar panel size and numbers are important considerations. With a large usable roof area, perhaps you can sacrifice some efficiency and buy more larger panels to get to your target energy output. But if your usable roof area is limited, or if its partially shaded, being able to use fewer smaller high efficiency panels may be the best way to make the most possible power over the long term, ultimately saving you more money.
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How Do I Calculate How Many Solar Panels I Need
Here are the steps you need to follow to calculate the size of your solar panel system:
A home consuming 1000 kWh per month would need 27 solar panels, each rated at 300 watts. This assumes an average irradiance of 4 kWh/m2/day and does not include PV system losses of up to 23%. Good practice is to add 20% to 25% more panels to account for system losses.
Editors Note: This Is An Overview On How To Understand How Much Energy Your Solar System Will Produce And Overall Solar Panel Output
We always advise speaking with at least a few certified solar installers to understand how all the factors will affect solar panel output for your system.
Solar panels indicate how much power they intend to produce under ideal conditions, otherwise known as the maximum power rating.
But how much electricity your solar panels produce depends on several factors.
- Does intermittent shading obscure direct sunlight from hitting the roof?
- How much sunlight does your roof get on average?
- How big are the solar panels, and how efficient are the solar cells at converting energy?
Because the seasons and weather conditions affect the amount of sunlight hitting your roof, and the amount of sunlight also varies on the time day, you cant use just the solar panel ratings to predict how much power youll get. However, your location will allow you to do some math and determine how well a solar panel works where you are.
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This Post Has 3 Comments
Hi,i loved your explanation of solar system it was very well explained, but on a personal note can I discuss with you via email i need more advice on this subject.
This article was very helpful. Thank you very much!In this you have covered on grid and off grid only. I am looking for a mix of these, where I want a solar battery backup during power outage, and the excess generated is sent/exported to the grid. Do we have a possibility of this one?
Thats pretty nice description. Now, I have a house that is yet to be constructed and I dont know my average electricity consumption but I know that I will be running 3-4 fans, for almost all the time in summer, 8 20 watt tube lights for about 4 hrs, 1 geyser for about 2 hr in winters and some 3-4 10-12 watt LED bulbs in lawn for about 3 hrs all through the year. ACs wont be there. And add a 50 inch TV running for say 8 hrs a day apart from charging my laptops, phones etc. how many solar panels I will need with no dependency on government supply?
How Many Kwh Can Solar Panels Produce And How Many Panels You Need On Your Roof
The amount of power your solar energy system can produce depends on the number of solar panels that can absorb solar energy and convert it into electricity.
Assuming you are going to choose standard-efficiency solar panels, here are the most common sizes for residential solar systems and their kWh production potential to give you an idea of how many panels you would need to run a house.
- A 3kW solar system which consists of 12 panels can produce an average of 4,200 kWh per year. You will need a roof space of about 194 sq ft for a 3kW system.
- A 5kW solar system which consists of 20 panels can produce an average of 7,000 kWh per year. You will need a roof space of about 340 sq ft for a 5kW system.
- A 10kW solar system which consists of 40 panels can produce an average of 14,000 kWh per year. You will need a roof space of about 680 sq ft for a 10kW system.
Keep in mind that the amount of power your solar system can produce depends on how much sunlight your roof receives and your location.
For example, California has more sunny days annually than Washington. In this case if you live in Washington you would need a bigger solar system to get the same power as you would get with a smaller system in California.
The Renewable Resource Data Center provides average daily total solar resource information on grid cells by state and its free to use so check it out.
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Scaling Up With A String Inverter System
Considerations when installing a string inverter
Initially you will need to install a larger inverter. You could have a 3kW system with a 5kW inverter, for example, and add extra panels in the future to build up to a 5kW system. However not all large inverters are compatible with smaller solar power system sizes. Ask your solar power installer which large inverters will be compatible with a smaller system .
Secondly, you will need to make sure you can get the same sized panel in a few years’ time. If you initially go for standard 250W panels, then you should be able to order these panels again in the future. This is important if you purchase panels that are a different size your solar power systems overall performance might decline.
You need to be sure you have enough roof space to add extra solar panels to the system at a later date.
Sunshine At Your Home
Your physical location is a key factor that impacts the efficiency of your home solar panels. As you might expect, solar systems are best suited for sunny areas — which is why solar is incredibly popular in states like California and Arizona. With more sunshine, each of your individual solar panels will generate more power. For our calculations, we’ll assume that you get four hours of sunshine per day.
The location of your home isn’t something that you can change, but it’s still important to recognize that your region plays a role in how well solar will work for you. In short, your panels will operate at maximum capacity when they can absorb the most possible sunlight.
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What Is The Solar System Payback Period In San Francisco
Installation costs for a solar power installation in SF is about $2.5 per kW, so the cost of an 8.042kW system would be about $20000.
In the calculation below, Ill work out how many years it will take to recover that capital cost:
- San Francisco residential electricity cost per kWh = 25.7 cents/kWh
- Yearly savings = energy usage x electricity cost = 12000kWh x 25.7 = $3084/year
- Solar payback time San Francisco = solar cost/yearly savings = $20000/3084 = 6.5 years
Wattage Of Your Panels
Most solar panels range in wattage from 150 to 350 watts per panel. If you choose lower wattage panels, youll need more in order to generate enough energy for your home. Of course, thats assuming youd like to replace 100% of your energy usage with solar energy. If youre only hoping for a partial conversion, the difference in solar panel wattage may not matter as much.
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How Much Do Solar Panels Cost
A solar system between 1-4 kW is likely to cost around £1,800 to over £6,000 depending on the manufacturer, model and number of panels.
| Size of Solar System | |
| 4 kW | £6,040 |
Solar panels might be a large investment but when you factor in the energy bills savings over a number of years and potential payments through the Smart Export Guarantee you could soon see a return on the initial investment.
Read our guide to ‘How Much Does it Cost to Install Solar Panels?‘ for an indepth look at the potential costs of a solar PV system.
The Formula To Calculate How Many Solar Panels Do I Need
- Daily Power Consumption in kWh = Monthly power consumption in kWh / 30
- Safety consideration daily consumption in kWh = Daily Power Consumption in kWh * 1.25
- Power consumption in watt hour = Safety consideration * 1000
- Needed Watts = Power consumption in watt hour / Peak hours of sunlight in your area
- Number of Panels required = Needed watts / Single solar panel power production in watts
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How Much Do Solar Panels Weigh
If youre planning on installing a rooftop solar system, understanding the weight of your solar panels is another key factor to consider. Knowing a solar panels weight is the best way to be certain that your roof can support a full installation.
While panel weights vary from brand to brand, most panels weigh about 40 pounds.
SunPower panels are the lightest of all major brands*, with some of our panels weighing as little as 33 pounds. For comparison, at the top end of the range some conventional panels weigh as much as 50 pounds.
Summary: How Many Panels Do You Need
Knowing the answers to the above questions will give you an idea of the ideal number of panels for your electricity generation needs or at least a realistic range. Next, a professional installer needs to assess your roof architecture, angle to the sun and other factors to see if and how youd be able to physically arrange the right number of panels on your roof to achieve your daily energy production goals.
You should also consider net metering as youre considering how much money youll save and make from your solar system. Net metering is how your utility company credits you for producing excess solar energy when the sun is shining and then lets you draw from those credits when youre using conventional power grid at night, if you dont store your excess solar energy in a battery storage system.
To get started, check out our solar calculator, which can help you figure out how much you might save going solar.
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How Many Solar Panels Does My House Need
To calculate the number of solar panels needed to power your house you need to know following two things.
To find your average monthly power consumption of your house, just look into your latest month electricity bill, there you will find your last 12 months power consumption. Add the last 12 month power consumption data and divide it by 12 to get your house average monthly power consumption.
Once your get your house average power consumption its time to know your average monthly solar power generation. The average monthly solar power generation varies from 80 kWh to 130 kWh.
I live in Mumbai, India here we get at least 4 5 sun hours everyday for around 300 days in a year.
The average monthly power produced by a 1 kW solar system in Mumbai, India is around 110 kWh 115 kWh. Let me clarify this value goes up in the summer and comes down in the rainy season so this is just an average value.
If your state or country receives similar amount of sun hours through out the year then you can assume your localities average monthly solar power generation to be 115 kWh.
However if you live in cold countries or places where there is less sun hours then dont take this value just google your countries name with monthly solar power generation in the suffix and you will get a figure for your monthly solar power generation.
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need For A 2000 Sq Ft Home
The average 2000 sq ft home uses about 1200 kWh of electricity per month.
Solar Reviews states, Number of 30 solar panels required to power the average 2000 square foot house in each state. However, SolarExpert says, So, a 2,000 square foot home would be allowed a solar array of 4,000 watts. Depending on the type of panel that you choose, a system of this size would be anywhere from 12-18 solar panels.
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The Size Of Your Home And Your Energy Consumption Habits
Bigger households will, of course, require more solar panels to meet their energy usage. But, the efficiency of your appliances at home and your energy consumption habits are also significant factors to consider. Two households of the same size can have different power requirements one may have fewer family members, while the other has more.
