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.
Whyare Solar Generators A Good Long
Now that you understand how the solarpanels and the solar generators work, lets look at some of the reasons why itwould be a good idea to invest in solar generators.
For starters, there have been numerous technological advancements around solar generators, hence more efficiencies. The process of transferring the captured solar energy has, for example, become efficient. Previously, a large percentage of the photon energy collected was not transferred properly to electric devices, but that isnt the case any more thanks to ingenuity and problem-solving.
The solar panels are also now more capable of gathering energy with a higher level of effectiveness, and cloud interference is no longer a huge issue when it comes to the ability of the solar panel to charge more effectively. Today, the modern solar panels on the market can harvest solar energy even when the solar conditions are less than ideal.
Appliances That You Can Power With Solar Generators
As you already know, the solar generator industry is not a case of one-size-fits-all. Some solar generators are not just right for your needs. Actually, it does not mean that the brand is awful, or the model is terrible. Instead, it only means that it has not been designed for the purpose that you want it to serve.
To this end, one of the essential details to keep in mind when you are about to get one is what you want it to charge and/or power. Therefore, no matter the brand of solar generator you are getting, make sure you go for one that can take care of all your desired electronics, devices, and appliances.
This knowledge will get you to consider some vital questions that have already been addressed these questions are also important to help you accurately decide which solar-powered generator fits your needs, avoiding oversizing.
Some questions to ask yourself before finding the solar generator for you include:
- Which appliances can I power with the solar generator?
- How many devices can be connected at once?
- How long can you run the appliances for?
- How long does it take the battery of the generator to charge up?
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How Do Seg Tariffs Work
Energy suppliers can decide the rate they pay, the length of the contract, and whether tariffs are fixed or variable. Fixed SEG tariffs pay a set rate per kilowatt hour of electricity exported over the length of the contract.
A variable tariff will have fluctuating prices depending on market demand . It therefore pays to shop around and compare what is on offer.
Note that you cannot receive both a feed-in tariff and SEG payments, but you can opt out of the feed-in tariff scheme if you would prefer to receive SEG payments.
Designing An Optimum Solar Power System
Designing a solar power system that is optimised for your unique property is key to getting the most out of it. Of course, suppliers like Energy Terrain are specialised in this process and can help you through it all.
We work with professional solar installers, who design a system thats specifically tailored around your needs.
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How Many Kwh Does A Solar Panel Produce Per Month
First, it is important to note that not all solar panels are created equally.
Presently, the range of efficiency, that is, how much of the suns energy hitting the solar cell is converted into electricity averages 18 percent, but can vary depending on the quality of the solar panel. A premium panel, manufactured with more expensive materials will cost more and be more efficient.
A solar panel operating at 20 percent efficiency produces around 265 watts of power per hour .
Manufacturers are required to label the panels with the number of kilowatts they can power per hour during ideal conditions, i.e. direct sunlight on a cloudless and sunny day. This number is called a Standard Test Condition rating and will be for example 265 if the panel produces 265 watts of power.
So, how much energy does a solar panel produce per day?
If for example, the solar panel has a rating of 250 watts of power, and the panel received a full hour of direct sunlight, and no other factors diminished the power, then you would get 250 watt-hours of electricity.
On average, one such panel would produce one kilowatt hour per day and 30 kWh per month.
Solar Panel Array Size
Solar panel array size is not the sole indicator of how much electricity a solar power system can produce however, they do factor in the equation. This is because a solar panel is composed of individual solar cells that work together to produce electricity. Generally speaking, the more solar cells there are, the more electricity they can generate.
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Step : How Much Battery Capacity Do You Need
The next important consideration is how much battery capacity you will need to power your devices without access to a live electrical grid.
Sometimes a backup solar generators battery capacity is rated in watt-hours or in amp-hours. If listed in amp-hours, you will need to convert it into watts by multiplying the amp-hours times the average voltage of your appliances, typically 110VAC.
To determine how much Backup Energy that youll need stored in your generator batteries to keep your home running during an outage, follow these steps:
Now you know how many watts of battery capacity you need in your backup solar generator.
Well, almost
The actual battery capacity you need depends on whether your generator can recharge itself while its being used, or not.
What Is A Solar Farm
A solar farm is an extensive mainly built to supply commercial solar power into the national electricity grid. It comprises of a large, decentralized solar panels installation that aims to provide its power to the power grid at the utility level.
The roof-mounted solar plants differ from the decentralized solar plants in that they dont supply power to the local or individual users.
Some solar farms are usually properties of utility companies and act as assets to supply power to other properties in the area.
While individuals with solar panels target to produce energy for their homes, these large-scale utility solar farms targets to generate electricity to cater to thousands of businesses and homes, in addition to utility-scale solar farms, large-scale solar projects can also be undertaken as community solar farms.
Want to go solar but have limited capital? Try Arcadia Power.
Arcadia Power is a completely free service that will help you switch to clean energy for no upfront capital cost. If you use my link, you will get a $20 credit off your electric bill when you link your utility account.
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What Determines The Amount Of Electricity Produced
There are actually four main factors that will determine how much electricity your solar panels will be able to produce for your home. These are as follows:
The size. This is the most important factor out of the four, as the larger the system is, the more electricity it will produce. If you are looking at a typical installation, it is a 3.5kw system, and this tends to be around 12 panels. Alternatively, the 1kw domestic system is likely to only be two panels.
Direction. This is the next most important factor. The direction in which your roof faces and its angles are more important than you might think. For optimum performance levels and efficiency, your panels should be facing south at an angle of 35 degrees.
The area of your roof that has the solar panels installed should not be in the shade during the day. Allowing the panels to be in the sunlight all day will increase the amount of electricity that you are able to produce.
Seasons. The time of year can also have an impact on efficiency and energy production. During the summertime, there are longer hours of daylight, so you will be able to produce a lot more power. However, it is also important to remember that solar panels actually work by capturing light as opposed to heat, so it will produce energy throughout the year.
How Much Does A Solar Panel Cost
Prices have been coming down steadily over the years. The total cost will depend on how many kilowatts of power your array will generate. According to consumer reports, after solar tax credits are accounted for, the cost for a solar panel system on an average-sized house in the U.S. in 2021 ranges from $11,000 to $15,000.
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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.
How Much Do I Save
Finally, lets find out how much you can save per month on average from your monthly electric bill!
Lets plug it all in:
On average, your solar system is going to lose some energy due to wiring, power, inverter efficiency, so you actually end up using 80% of your solar systems capacity.
To figure out how many kilowatt-hours your solar panel system puts out per year, you need to multiply the size of your system in kW DC times the .8 derate factor times the number of hours of sun. So if you have a 7.5 kW DC system working an average of 5 hours per day, 365 days a year, itll result in 10,950 kWh in a year.
If you divide your expected 10,950 kWh of annual production by 12, youll see that your system will offset about 912 kWh per month from your monthly electric bill, which can translate to $100 or more per month depending on how much you pay per kWh!
So to break this down into simple math that you can do:
AC rating = Average kWh per month / 30 days / average sun hours per day
example: 903 kWh per month / 30 days / 5 hours = 6.02 kW AC
DC rating = AC rating / derate factor
example: 6.02 kW AC / .8 = 7.53 kW DC
Number of panels = DC rating / Panel Rating *note this is important b/c panels are rated in watts, and the systems are rated in kilowatts . So a 7.53 kW system = 7530 Watts and a 250 watt panel = .250 kW
example: 7.53 kW x 1000 / 250 watt = 30.12 panels, so roughly 30 250 panels
Have you calculated how much your solar system will produce? Tell us in the comments!
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How Do I Improve The Output Of My Solar Panels
There are 4 key factors that will determine just how much electricity you can create with solar panels for your property:
- The size of the system is the most important factor of all. The typical domestic installation is a 3.5kW system, which is normally around 12 panels. A smaller 1kW domestic system is likely to be only 2 panels.
- The direction that your roof faces and the angle of the roof comes next. For optimum performance, your panels will need to be on a 35-degree angle, facing south.
- Having a roof that is not in the shade will increase the amount of electricity you are able to produce. Take a look at the handy table above, which shows you what output volume can be expected from a domestic solar installation.
- The time of year will also have an impact. During longer daylight hours in the summer you will be able to produce proportionally more power. That said, its important to remember solar panels work from light not heat so will still produce energy all year round.
What Can You Power With A Single Solar Panel
In the example above, the solar panel is producing 1.5 kWh per day, which ends up being about 45 kWh per month. Thats enough energy to power some small appliances without too much issue, but if you want to cover the energy used by your propertys climate control systems or large cooking appliances, youll need more solar panels. Check out our article on how many solar panels you need for your home to better understand how much solar energy your unique property needs.
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What Can I Power With A Single Solar Panel
A single 60 cell solar panel can produce 45 kWh per month this is enough to power a few electronic appliances in your house. However, if you want your solar panel to power your climate control system, heaters, and large cooking appliances, you will need a lot more than one solar panel. While it might seem like a substantial investment, solar panels cut down your energy bill by 20% to 30%.
How Important Is Solar Panel Efficiency
Some solar panels are more efficient than others. This means that they can generate the same Wattage of power as a less efficient panel that takes up a larger area. More efficient systems are often a lot more expensive than standard solar panels. So you need to decide if you need this extra expense.
It all comes down to space. If you have a large roof space to use for solar panels, then it makes sense for you to buy cheaper panels that generate the same amount of energy as a smaller, more expensive, efficient setup.
The key takeaway here is that an efficient 300 Watt panel doesnt produce any more power than a less efficient 300 Watt panel it just takes up less space.
If roof space isnt an issue, you dont need to worry as much about how much energy your solar panels produce.
Solar panels are given a percentage efficiency rating, usually in the range of 15-22%
You can use this efficiency rating to help you decide if you need more efficient, more expensive panels. Just calculate the maximum space that you want to make available for solar panels and then move on to how much power you want to generate from the system.
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Want An Even More Accurate Estimate
For an even more accurate measurement of actual power usage, youll have to use an electricity monitoring device to measure the true energy consumption of your devices in question.
You can measure usage over the course of a day, week, or even month to get a more accurate estimate of average hourly & daily usage.
Looking For Solar Panels
Your minimum aim is to cover as much of your household consumption as reasonably possible for a typical day. If your power consumption is 30kWh on some days, but on most days it’s 20kWh, it might not be worth adding extra panels just to cover those few 30kWh days. You could go with a 5kW solar PV system and just accept paying for more power than usual from the grid on those occasional high-consumption days.
But solar panels are relatively cheap now, and there’s an economy of scale in installing a larger system, so it’s worth talking this through with your installer to consider how big a system you could get. Typical solar PV systems installed in 2021 are at least 6.6kW in size and we think that’s a good size for most homes to aim for right now.
That said, bigger systems of 810kW are becoming more common, especially for systems that include a storage battery.
You might think it’s better to oversize your system because any excess will be exported to the grid, and you’ll be paid for it via the feed-in tariff. But the feed-in tariff for new solar PV systems is generally very low typically from four to eight cents per kWh, though you can get better deals from some energy retailers and it’s unlikely on its own to justify the cost of a larger system.
Read more: Are solar feed-in tariffs worth it?
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