Formulas Used To Calculate Solar Power Needs
With these factors in mind, you can more easily figure out how much solar power your home is going to need to operate at normal levels.
To start, you should add up how much kWh usage your household has had over the past 12 months, and then divide that number by 12 to get the average.
The second thing to look at is how many hours of sunlight your home gets. The peak hours that are most important here are the hours that offer at least 1,000 watts of photovoltaic power per square meter. If you live in the US, your peak hours can range from about 3 to 7 hours.
The formula youll use is average kWh use / . As an example, your formula might look something like this:
812 kWh / = 4.92 kW solar system
Once you have the number for your needed kW, you have to convert it into the wattage output from a solar panel. 1 kW is the same as 1,000 watts, so you have to multiply by 1,000. With our example, that will look like this:
4.92 x 1,000 = 4,920
Next, we will divide that number by the output that an average solar panel has. If youre using standard panels with 250-watt output, youll use that information to figure out how many panels youll need in total. Using our example here, the formula will look like this:
4,920 / 250 = 19.68 solar panels
If you live somewhere that gets 5.5 hours of peak sun and use 812 kWh per month, youll need a 4.92 kW system with close to 19.68 solar panels to completely power your home.
Eliminating Your Electric Bill In Hawaii
In many cases, you can significantly reduce your reliance on the energy grid. Some homeowners have been able to experience significant savings over the lifetime of the unit.
Some solar systems, depending on energy output, can pay for themselves in about four years.
Whether you lease or buy the system, youll be able to benefit almost immediately from renewable energy.
How Much Are Solar Panels In Hawaii
The cost of solar panels in Hawaii depends on many factors, including the size of your home and system, where your home is located and how many watts of energy you will need. Currently, there are federal solar tax credits available that can help you save even more. To accurately answer this common question about the average cost of a PV system in Hawaii, we highly suggest that we provide you with a free no-obligation estimate. All it takes is a single copy of your latest electric bill. You will be surprised at how affordable solar can really be.
Also Check: How Does Going Solar Work
How Much Do Solar Panels In Hawaii Cost
Most homes and businesses that use solar technology typically see a return on their investment in as little as 4 years. This is an extremely short amount of time when compared with other states that are located on mainland of the United States. The cost of installing a solar panel system is typically high but in Hawaii these expenses are slightly lower. Most homes within the U.S. will pay at least $18,000 for the average solar panel system but single family home PV systems are about $15,000 in Hawaii. Note that
Amazing Service Cant Wait To Find Out Whats Next
We had a 19 year old solar water heater system and needed a new roof. Wes took care of coordinating the old panel removal and new heater and panel install with the roofers. Solar Help crew was very efficient and professional. They installed new plumbing and electrical with the heater and the work was top notch. After they finished they made sure to go over all aspects of the new system with us since it had a number of features our old system did not have. We could not have asked for a better experience and will use Solar Help Hawaii again.
Don’t Miss: How Many Homes In California Have Solar Panels
Is Solar Big In Hawaii
The State of Hawaii is a leader in the use of solar power. Click here for the most recent quarterly solar data. On Oahu, the capacity of solar power installed at utility scales has risen to over six megawatts, and one megawatt on Kauai. The island of Lanai is equipped with 2 megawatts. For more information on Going Solar, please click here.
The Size Of The System
Start by determining how many solar panels you will need or how many panels your roof can accommodate. For reference, a typical rooftop solar system in the U.S. is 5 kW or 20 250-watt panels. Data on overall system costs are usually in terms of the number of DC Watts .
- Average home energy usage How much electricity your home uses is the primary factor that determines the size of the system. Every solar installer will ask for your electric bill to help calculate your energy usage.
- Amount of sunlight How much of your energy needs your system can produce will depend on how much sunlight you receive in your area. Accurate data for direct normal irradiation for all regions of the U.S. can be found at
Recommended Reading: Can You Store Solar Panel Energy
How Much Does The Entire Solar System Cost
The Center for Sustainable Energy estimates that installation and the system together can cost up to $25,000 on average. A locations influence on electricity rates is substantial. As of the end of June, the U.S. Department of Energy reports an average price of 13 cents per kilowatt-hour. A government agency responsible for energy information.
How Does The Cost Of Solar Power Compare To The Electricity Rates Charged By Heco
Levelized cost of power from this typical solar system installed on a home in Hawaii over 25 years is 4.3 cents/kWh.
Average cost of utility power over 25 years is 51.5 cents/kWh. This shows that solar is a far cheaper way to power your home in Hawaii over the long term. The way we calculate the average cost of utility power is by assuming the current HECO electric rates will grow each year at a compound rate of 3.5%. Actual inflation may be higher or lower than this but either way this analysis shows that solar is a clearly better choice.
Don’t Miss: Does Texas Have A Solar Rebate
Solar Power Prices Savings And Payback In Your Part Of Hawaii
The average cost for an installed residential solar system in Hawaii is currently$11,837 after claiming the 26%federal solar tax credit. This is $2.67 per watt.However, there is some variance in solar prices in different parts of the state.The graph below shows the average cost of installed solar systems in your part of the state.
Showing data for:
Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of a 5.9kWsystem
Can You Buy Solar Panels And Install Them Yourself
An installation is under way. The process of installing solar panels requires no help from a professional. DIYers can learn about and install solar systems that are suitable for them, and, in some cases, they can do it over a day or two. Making use of DIY solar panels is the perfect solution if you only desire to supplement your traditional energy source.
Recommended Reading: How To Change Your Sole Proprietorship To An Llc
Solar Panel Cost Hawaii: Prices & Data March 2022
As of Mar 2022, the average cost of solar panels in Hawaii is$2.67 per watt making a typical 6000 watt solar system$11,837 after claiming the 26% federal solar tax credit now available.
This is lower than the average price of residential solar power systems across the United States which is currently $3.00 per watt.
What If Im Broke Can You Still Help Me Save Money On Electricity
You dont have to buy solar panels to have them installed on your home! One of the most popular ways to go solar is the solar lease, where a solar company installs and owns the solar panels but gives you a permanently discounted electricity rate. These deals, while they wont save you as much as owning the panels in the long run, are nearly pain-free and save you money from day one.
You May Like: Why Do Solar Panels Face South
What You Can Learn From Our State Solar Panel Calculator
This solar calculator requires you to input your address, utility company, your average monthly power spend – it tells you:
- Solar electricity production in annual kWh you can expect from your solar system in Hawaii
- The value of solar tax credits and other incentives you are entitled to based on the estimated size of system you need, your location and your utility provider.
- Likely cost based on an average of prices charged for solar systems of that size in the last year in Hawaii or
- The likely payback period on your solar panels and your investment return.
- Your total lifetime solar savings based on each of the major solar finance options, a cash purchase, a cash purchase funded with a HELOC and a zero-down PPA or third party lease product.
If you want to see all of the above but also see live pricing, the three best solar deals available in your city andget binding quotes from each of these solar companies then use this Hawaii solar panels calculator.This calculator requires you to also input your name and contact details because most of our 200+ installerpartners will only authorize the sharing of their live solar pricing where we have validated that you are a realhomeowner with a home in their service area. We respect the privacy of your data and only share your contact detailswith the solar companies you ask us to get binding quotes from.
How Much Energy Do You Use
In 2020, the average American household had about 10,715 kilowatt-hours in electricity usage.
You need to consider how many appliances you use that require electricity and how often they run to figure out your energy usage. Your electricity bill will likely tell you the kWh, which stands for kilowatt-hours, which is the direct measurement used for figuring out energy consumption.
A larger home might use more electricity overall simply because there is more stuff in it to power, so youll need more solar panels if you live in a bigger house. However, you might live in a larger house that uses a lot of energy-efficient appliances.
If you compare the electricity usage of a home with a lot of Energy Star appliances to a home with older appliances, this is going to make a big difference. Keep in mind that anything plugged in will use power, including things that you may forget about like the refrigerator or your clothes dryer.
The best way to figure out how much power youll need from residential solar panels is by looking at your electricity bills. You can see past bills and compare them to more recent bills to see how your energy needs may have changed over time.
Recommended Reading: Is My Property Suitable For Solar Panels
Hawaii Solar Property Tax Exemption
In most cases your homes value will increase when solar panels are installed. While this is generally regarded as a good thing, it can lead to an increase in property taxes. In Hawaii where real estate is at a premium and property taxes can quickly add up, accelerating your home’s value with solar panels may not seem like a great idea. But not to worry! The City and County of Honolulu are now protected from property tax increases from their solar system. This means your are 100% exempt from increases in property taxes that are associated with increased home value because of your solar panel system.
How Much Solar Energy Does Hawaii Produce
Hawaii ranks 16th in the U.S. in terms of the number of megawatts of its solar installations, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association . * It provides nearly 17% of the state’s electricity and can power 356,477 homes. Hawaii has over 93,000 solar installations, with the Waiawa Solar Project and 12 MW, KRS I Anahola Solar are the most significant. Information about other solar installations* is available on SEIA’s website.
Read Also: How To Do Taxes For A Sole Proprietorship
How Many Solar Panels For 3000 Kwh A Month
The guideline above will work, but there are a lot of variables involved here. How much of the power do you want to run from solar? Are you on the grid or off it? Do you own a large house or a farm? Where do you live and how many sunlight hours do you receive?
You can ask a solar panel provider to conduct an assessment on your property, but you can do it yourself using the following information. You can then determine how many solar panels you will need.
The formula is average sun hours per day x 30 / kwh per month = solar panel size
If you need 3000 kwh per month and the property receives 5 hours of sunlight a day, that would be 5 x 30 = 150.
3000 / 150 = 20. You need at least 20 kwh, or better yet 21.5 kwh to offset energy losses.
If you want solar power to produce 80% of the power, multiply kwh per month by .8.
3000 x .8 = 2400. You need 2400W to convert 80% of your monthly energy usage into solar.
Whether you own a house or a farm, calculating how many solar panels you need is the same process. The numbers given here are examples, so you can substitute whatever numbers you require.
Not Sure What I Did Before Discovering This Product Its Super
Solar Help is a genuine class act!!! I contacted them to assist in a panel take down and reinstall for a roof replacement. The pricing is more than fair, communication for coordination was simple, and the panel team were so effecient that the take down and reset was as if they were never there. I left for work in the moring to return to panels neatly situated out of the way so the roofers can do their work. When it came time to reset, the same scenario, I returned home to a new roof with solar panels back in place and powering my home. I just wanted to say thank you and recognize the company for what it is… FIRST RATE CLASS ACT!!!
Don’t Miss: What Is Soft Solid Deodorant
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost For A 2000 Square Foot House
An estimate of the solar panel cost for a 2,000 square foot home. In general, it is about $2,200 to $2,500 to install solar panels on a 2,000 square foot roof. ft. Between $15,000-$40,000 is the typical price range for a home. The amount of electricity you use each day determines your utility costs.
How You Pay For The System
Paying for your solar panels upfront means that you are the owner of your system. Owning gives you some substantial benefits, including an increased home value. If buying your system outright isnt an option, look into solar loans and solar leases. Each offers $0 down, and your monthly payments will most likely be less than your current electric bill.
It is important to note that you are not the owner when leasing a solar system the company you lease from is. Only the owner can claim the tax credits and rebates.
Read Also: How Long Can Solar Panels Last
Return On Investment For A 5kw Solar Array
For this same array, expect to see about a 4-5 year payback time. Thats right, although you may be out a few grand initially the solar array will pay you back after just a few years. Note that there are always other financing options available but were assuming you want the biggest payback possible, which only comes by buying the system outright.
The best part is your total ROI on a 5kW solar panel array in the 20 years after the system pays for itself: $116,623.
Thats correct, in total savings on electricity you will actually earn a cool six figures over the next 20 years. This makes investing in solar panels a financial no-brainer if you plan on staying your home. .
Expect to save over $200 a month in electricity costs. We dont need to remind you how expensive electricity is in the state of HI!
Should You Go 100% Solar Power On A 3000kwh System
If you want to go 100% solar, you must have a battery bank or access to solar buyback or net metering as your energy usage will vary season by season. Without any of these you could waste solar power production.
Suppose your house needs 3000 kwh during the summer and 3300 kwh during the winter. If your system generates 3200 kwh during the summer, the extra power goes to waste. On the other hand, production may drop to 2900 kwh during the winter, falling short of what you need.
Solar panel ratings and output differ, and when you add the changing weather you could end up with an overabundance or lack of solar power. There are two solutions, net metering and solar batteries.
Net Metering
Net metering or solar buyback is a program that allows you to sell excess solar energy to the power company in exchange for credit. If you produce an extra 200 kwh in July, you can sell it to the utility company. When your system production drops in November, you can use the extra credit and get electricity without paying a higher bill.
The benefit of net metering or solar buy back is no energy is wasted. Your solar system can produce more than 3000 kwh a month and you can use that as credit for later use.
Solar Batteries
If you do not have net metering, you can buy batteries for energy storage. Batteries will add to your cost, but with it your solar system can produce whatever amount and the extra gets stored. You can even go off grid with a large battery bank and an inverter
Recommended Reading: Is Tesla Solar Roof Available In Illinois
