Solar panels are an excellent investment for anyone looking to reduce their carbon footprint and lower their energy bills. However, one question that many people have is how many solar panels they need to power their home. The answer to this question depends on a variety of factors, including your energy usage, location, and the size of your home.
Calculating Your Energy Usage
The first step in determining how many solar panels you need is to calculate your average daily energy usage. This can be done by reviewing your monthly energy bills over the course of a year and averaging out your daily usage. Once you have this number, you can use it to estimate the number of solar panels you will need to generate enough energy to power your home. If you prefer, we can do the math for you! Using our “contact us” portion of the website there is a “upload bill” function. That will allow us to give an in detail report about your property and our expert technician can educate you on the process.
Location
Another important factor to consider when determining how many solar panels you need is your location. The amount of sunlight that your panels will receive will depend on where you live and the orientation of your home. If you live in a sunny area with little shade, you may need fewer panels than someone who lives in a more shaded area.
Size of Your Home
The size of your home is another important factor to consider when determining how many solar panels you need. A larger home will typically require more panels to generate enough energy to power it. However, the number of people living in the home and their energy usage habits will also affect the number of panels required.
Panel Efficiency
The efficiency of the solar panels you choose will also play a role in determining how many you need. Higher efficiency panels will generate more energy per square foot than lower efficiency panels. This means that if you choose high-efficiency panels, you may need fewer of them to generate the same amount of energy. Luckily, Blackcat Solar uses the highest rated efficiency available in our markets.
Determining the Size of Your Solar Array
Once you have calculated your daily energy usage, factored in your location, the size of your home, and the efficiency of the panels you plan to use, you can determine the size of your solar array. This will give you an idea of how many panels you need to purchase and install.
To calculate the size of your solar array, you will need to know the average amount of sunlight your area receives, which is typically measured in peak sun hours. Peak sun hours refer to the number of hours during the day when the sun is strong enough to generate electricity. The more peak sun hours your area receives, the fewer solar panels you will need to generate the same amount of energy.
For example, if your average daily energy usage is 30 kilowatt-hours (kWh), and your location receives an average of 5 peak sun hours per day, you will need a 6-kilowatt (kW) solar array to generate enough energy to power your home. A 6-kW solar array typically requires around 20 solar panels.
The Bottom Line
Determining how many solar panels you need can be a complex process that involves many variables. However, by considering your energy usage, location, the size of your home, and the efficiency of the panels you plan to use, you can get a good idea of the size of your solar array. It’s important to remember that the size of your solar array will affect the cost of your installation, so it’s important to choose the right number of panels to balance energy needs and budget.
Blackcat Solar’s team specializes in correctly sizing solar systems and explaining their function. Utilize the “contact us” button and you will be connected with a solar industry expert.
