Did you know that the cost of installing solar has dropped by more than 60% over the last ten years?
Many people are switching to renewable energy because of the undeniable financial and environmental implications. Yet, it can be confusing to deduce how many solar panels are needed to power a home.
Continue reading to understand how to size a solar system.
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Calculations to Learn What Size a Solar System You Need
The average US household uses 893 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each month. But it’s important to examine your home’s energy requirement before moving forward.
To do this, take a closer look at your electricity bills and calculate your kilowatt-hours (kWh) usage. Determine your average monthly kWh usage and divide by 30 to calculate your daily usage. Divide again by 24 and note down your hourly usage.
Find out your peak sunlight hours in your area. To calculate the number of solar panels you’ll need, multiply your household’s hourly energy requirement by the peak sunlight hours and divide that by a solar panel wattage.
Note that homeowners can enjoy a 26% tax credit for solar systems installed before 2023.
What Factors To Take Into Consideration
There are a few things you must consider before reaching a final decision. The number of panels needed will depend on the solar panel sizes, their power rating, and the amount of sunlight you can expect to receive each day.
An average solar panel measures approximately 65 inches by 39 inches, so it’s essential to look at the size of your roof to see how many panels it can fit. The roof condition must be inspected because each panel weighs around 20 kg.
It’s also vital to check if there are any obstructions to the sunlight. Take a closer look at solar panel installation options and enjoy a free energy evaluation.
What Happens to Excess Solar Energy Produced?
It’s common for solar systems to produce excess energy during peak sunlight hours. Homeowners have two options. It can either be stored in a solar storage system for later use or sold to the electricity grid. You can get solar credits in exchange for the excess energy sent to the grid.
Feeding the grid with your excess clean energy has financial and environmental benefits, so you don’t need to worry about wasting the sun’s valuable energy.
It can either be stored in a solar storage system for later use or sold to the electricity grid. You can get solar credits in exchange for the excess energy sent to the grid.
Feeding the grid with your excess clean energy has financial and environmental benefits, so you don’t need to worry about wasting the sun’s valuable energy.
A review of 11 analyses by the Environment Massachusetts Research and Policy Center highlighted several reasons solar power delivers greater benefits to the grid and society.
Harness The Sun’s Incredible Power
Going solar is an increasingly popular way for people to reduce their carbon footprint and lower their energy bills. The size of a solar system will depend on the solar panel sizes and power rating. You should also take into consideration each home’s number of peak sunlight hours and energy usage.
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