How Many Kwh Does A 6kw Solar System Produce

Consider How Much Power You Actually Use

Step #3: Consider how much power you actually use and how and when you use it.

Realistically, you will probably look to supplement your power needs via solar rather than use a Battery Stand-Alone system. If you want more information about battery back up and true system sizing, please let us know we have an overview you can use to determine your full power needs. However, if you simply want an understanding of how much electricity you use and how much a solar system will produce, follow the steps below.

One way to look at the math:

• Solar systems are generally sized in 1 kW 6 kW systems. A typical residential size is 3 kW.
• 3 kW, or 3 kilowatts = 3,000 watts
• A 3 kW system will generate around 3,000 DC watts per hour
• Multiply the per hour generation by 5.4 which is an average number of sun hours in a day
• Multiply the new total by the average number of days in a month
• Multiply the new total by .77. This is the derating factor, or the amount of energy lost when DC current is turned into AC current.
• So, a 3 kW system will generate about 375,467 watt-hours per month, or about 375 kWh.
• Now compare this number with the kWh usage noted in your electric bill. How many kWh do you use in a typical month? Twice this amount? Then you would save roughly ½ your electric bill if you installed a 3 kW system.
• Consider how much money you save per month to figure out how long it will take to pay off your system.

Another way to look at the math in reverse:

Kw Solar System And A 5kw Inverter

Most 6.6kW solar systems are quoted with a 5kW solar inverter

In Australia we have a federal based incentive to go solar known as STCs or Small Scale Technology Certificates. STCs are calculated on the size of the solar system, the installation State or Territory and the deeming period for these STCs.

The STC scheme allows the capacity of the inverter installed at the premises to be oversized with panels by 33%.

This same 33% rule carries across to the Clean Energy Council and your electricity distributor, who are the people who put up your poles and wires.

What this means is, the most panels you can legally put on a 5kW inverter to save money and help drive those headline prices is 6.6kWs. If you go over 6.6kWs you would need a bigger inverter or second inverter which then drives the price up which makes it hard for the high turnover, low margin retailers out there.

However, oversizing a 5kW inverter with 6.6kWs of solar panels is a good design move.

It would need to be the perfect day for your solar system to produce its total capacity not to mention site specific influences such as panel orientation. What is more important is the total daily generation of the solar system. A 5kW Solar System on a 5kW inverter will generate less then a 6.6kW Solar System on a 5kW inverter and the cost difference wont be much when you consider STCs.

What Does It Mean To Have A 15kw System

The different system sizes can be confusing – 1.5kW, 2.3kW, 4.5kW. What’s really important is to find out how much power a system will actually provide over a year and what your return on investment will be.

For the sake of simplicity: having a 1.5kW system means that at any given time on a clear summer’s day the system will produce up to 1.5 kilowatts.

This graph is provided only to help reinforce the point above the data is not precise.

A 1.5kW system in Auckland will produce an estimated 2,000 kWh annually.

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How Do I Find The Right Installer For A 6kw Solar System

If you are interested in off-grid solar panel options or want to install solar panels yourself, it is possible to buy a DIY solar kit to install a 6kW system. A DIY kit costs about $10,000, making them slightly cheaper than the installed price you will get with a solar company.

Although it is technically cheaper to buy a DIY kit, many times you will need the help of a solar installer or a licensed electrician. After solar installation, electricians will ensure that the system will pass inspections.

All of that extra work can cost more than having a licensed solar installer install your panels. Also, when you work with licensed professionals, you can benefit from a 25-year warranty on your panels, a perk you do not get with DIY.

To really be sure if a 6kW system is right for you, it makes sense to work with trusted solar installers to determine the number of solar panels your home needs. Find out what local incentives you can qualify for and if a 6kW system is right for your homes energy needs!

Is a 6kW solar system the right size for your home?

Solar Panel Orientation And Optimal Tilt Angle

Since Australia is in the southern hemisphere, north facing your solar panels is considered as the best way to maximize their energy production. Variations for different orientations and tilt angles as well as their average impact on energy production for a particular case in Sydney can be seen below.

Figure 3. Orientation, Angle tilt and efficiency of a solar system in Sydney. Source: Solar Analytics

West-Facing

However, obtaining the maximum possible energy out of your panels isnt always equal to an efficient production of energy and money savings in your electricity bill. Depending on your energy usage habits, it might be beneficial to shift the direction to the west or east, as we will discuss.

West facing your panels reduces the annual overall energy production by 10 to 20 percent, although, this is a smart move if your home energy consumption occurs mostly during the afternoon. At this time of the day, your solar panels can conveniently absorb more solar radiation when they are oriented to the west. In addition, pointing to the west your solar panels can save money from your bill since it produces power in the afternoon when the electricity taken from the utility grid is more expensive, as demand peaks usually happen in the afternoon.

East-facing

Tilt Angle

Figure 4. Different tilt angles for different seasons. Source: Solar Sena

Figure 5. Ideal panel Angles. Source: Solar Calculator

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How Many Solar Panels Do I Need Then

Related:How many solar panels do I need?

Typically, a modern solar panel produces between 250 to 270 watts of peak power in controlled conditions. This is called the nameplate rating, and solar panel wattage varies based on the size and efficiency of your panel. There are plenty of solar calculators, and the brand of solar system you choose probably offers one. That said, there is a simple equation to calculate the amount of kilowatt-hours your solar panel system will produce.

So now that we know you need to produce about 6kW of AC output, we can work backwards to figure out how many solar panels you need. Solar panels produce direct current , and your home runs on alternating current .

Yep, like the band, AC/DC.

Because of physics, there are losses in converting the energy from the sun into DC power, and turning the DC power into AC power. This ratio of AC to DC is called the derate factor, and is typically about .8. This means you convert about 80% of the DC power into AC power.

This continues to improve ever so slightly, but the losses are unavoidable because of physics! So you take the AC amount you need: 6kW and divide by .8 . This means that youll need 30 250Wp solar panels or 27-28 270Wp panels.

How Much Does A 6kw System Cost

You can expect to pay $5,000 $9,000 to purchase and install a 6kw capacity solar system. The price provided includes a solar rebate from the federal or state government depending on where you live.

Every new solar customer is eligible to receive a rebate. Additionally, you must purchase your solar panels from an accredited installer.

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What Is The Typical Output Of A Solar Panel

All solar panel systems are different, so to give you an understanding of typical solar panel output, lets look at the average for residential solar panel systems:

• Residential solar systems tend to range in size from 2kW to 5kW

• Typically, the bigger the system size, the bigger the output

• An average 2kW system has an output of around 1,700kW units

• A typical 5kW system will have an output of around 4,500kW units

The table below shows the average output for typical sizes of residential solar panels:

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What Is A 66kw Solar Power System

More and more people are looking for cost-effective and reliable energy solutions with increasing household budgets. Solar energy is capable to be the solution for this issue. But to get the most from the investment, you have to choose the right system.

A 6.6kW system with a 5kW solar inverter will produce enough electricity to power an average Australian household. Depending on the place you live, the sunlight availability may vary and therefore electricity produced may also vary. For example, a 6.6kW system in Melbourne produces 23.8kWh of electricity per day while a similar system in Brisbane produces 27.7kWh.

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How Much Electricity Can 5000 Watts Of Pv Panels Produce

The amount of electricity your solar panels produce depends on many factors, including the direction and angle of your roof. The most important one is how sunny it is where you live for example, a 5kW system in Las Vegas makes about 30 percent more electricity in a year than one in Philadelphia. That being said, you dont have to live in the Southwest for solar to make sense for you. The cost of electricity where you live is the biggest determinant of your solar savings.

The table below shows average estimated electricity production numbers for 5kW solar energy systems in cities across the U.S. By comparison, the average household in the U.S. uses 877 kilowatt-hours a month, which equals 10,649 kWh per year. We estimated these numbers using a tool developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory called PV Watts.

Solar electricity output of 5 kW solar panel systems in top U.S. cities

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How Many Kwh Does A Solar Panel Produce

Solar panels designed for domestic use will produce 250-400 watts, which are adequate to power any household appliance.

If you need to know how much power a solar panel produces in a day, you should multiply a wattage by the hours of sunlight. If you combine individual panels, you will be in an excellent position to make a solar system.

The following are factors that determine the output of each solar panel:

• Location
• Angle and direction
• Weather conditions

To understand more about how a solar panel produces power, there is a need to understand more about some of the basic units of energy. These units of power are watt and kilowatt , watt-hours , and kilowatt-hours

Watts and kilowatts are the units of power. They show the amount of energy that a solar panel can produce.

• 1000 watts = 1 kilowatt

Moreover, Watt-hour and kilowatt-hour are the units of energy. They show the amount of work that can be done in one hour.

• 1000 watt-hour = 1 kilowatt-hour

Lets take a look at a number of different examples as we calculate how much a solar panel produces per day, month, year, and for specific powered systems.

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Factor : Inconsistent Power Production

Which months are best for solar varies by region, but it isnt consistent year-round anywhere in the US. Understanding this matters for several reasons:

• What happens if your system produces excess energy in summer months? Where will the excess go?
• Does your utility have a net-metering program?
• Do you have a way to store the extra energy ?

If you dont want to buy battery storage, and if you cant sell it back to the grid because your utility doesnt allow it, then producing more energy than you need does you no good whatsoever.

Thats why many people set a goal less than 100%. If your goal is to produce 70% of your energy needs from solar, then its unlikely youll generate more than you need, even in the summer. And instead of having a zero power bill, youll just have a much smaller one. But youll avoid the risk of producing energy that doesnt benefit you.

However, if you do have access to some sort of buyback or net-metering program (like the Tennessee Valley Authority offers its customers, or if you do want to buy solar battery storage, then setting a goal closer to 100% makes more sense.

But just be aware your solar panels will not produce consistent amounts of energy around the year.

Task 4: Re-consider your goal with excess energy in mind

How Much Power Does It Generate

On average, a good quality 5kW solar system generates 22 units per day enough to easily offset a typical Australian households entire energy usage.

The amount of power your 5kW solar system generates depends on three things: location, positioning and quality. Locations receiving large amounts of sunlight with less cloud cover are the best places for solar. However, if youre in a less sunny location, youll still benefit particularly if you purchase the highest quality system, invest in technologies such as power optimisers, and position it correctly.

Thats why we recommend you purchase the highest quality panels and inverters you can afford. They produce the best results and will put more money back in your pocket over a longer period.

We also suggest you take advantage of our installers expertise they know where, and how to position your system so it absorbs the most direct sunlight possible. With their help, youll generate the maximum amount of energy possible, 365 days a year.

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How Much Electricity Will The System Produce

The performance of your 6 kW solar system depends on several things such as the direction your roof is facing, its angling and of course the quality of the materials used.

With a south facing roof and the right angling, the system will generate approximately 4.5 kWh for each kW installed, minus some minor losses that are likely to occur. Such efficiency losses might appear from weather conditions or some slight shading over your panels.

In brief, these are some of the main factors that will define the power output of your system:

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How Much Power Does A House Need

How much power consumption a house needs depends on the house. A large house may have more power consumption than a smaller house. This is because the house may have more rooms that will need lighting and use other appliances.

An average home in Australia consumes up to 20kWh. Power consumption rises and decreases depending on the seasons. Rising in both summer and winter.

How Much Does An Average 6kw Solar System Cost

With the average cost of solar about $3.00 per watt, a 6kW solar system in the US will cost about $18,000. With the 26% federal tax credit, the solar system price drops down to about $13,320.

Depending on where you live, you can also benefit from additional state or utility-based solar rebates and incentives, such as net metering, that may reduce the price even more.

The system design and parts can also change the price, like inverters and ground mount racking, among other things.

All of the above factors, in addition to each states sun hours and their cost of electricity, play into the different costs of installing solar. In the chart below, we break down what you can expect to pay around the country.

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How Much Power Is 6kw

• So in the real world, a 6kW installation will actually produce around 5.15 kW still enough to power 572 LED lightbulbs! Over the course of 1 hour, a 6kW solar installation will produce 6 kilowatt-hours . How much a 6kW installation produces over the course of a day, month or year depends on the location.

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