If you are planning to install solar panels in your home, then it is perhaps the best decision taken. But you need to know a few things to ensure optimizing solar panel benefits.
Things to know
You need to take into consideration three major factors like:
- Roof size
- Hours you can expect good sunshine in your area
- Daily average energy consumption
Average energy consumption is also referred to as planned usage is an important guideline to determine the solar panel numbers required. kWh (total Kilowatt hours) currently used or planned to be used is to be taken into consideration.
What number of solar panels will I require to install for efficient lighting?
The capacity of the amount of energy to generate depends entirely on sun hours in your particular location. This will determine the solar panel numbers to install.
Another key factor is roof size. This helps determine the panel numbers to be fit on the roof, the energy amount to generate and cost involved. You should also consider roof suitability, if it is strong enough to support solar panel weight and its angling.
Solar panel numbers required in an average home
How many people are there in your household? This will have a direct impact on the number of solar panels to be installed. For 5+ people, you will require installing a 6kW solar system, 5kW for 4 people and 4kW for 3-4 people. However, the common size especially for domestic solar panels is 4kW.
Again, the number of panels required will vary based on if installation is 6kW or 3kW including the solar panel size used. In case, you choose a 3kW system with 250W panels, for example, then you will require 12 solar panels. 24 panels will be necessary for the 6kW system.
Another essential aspect to consider is whether you require just a percentage of electricity or an entire unit. This will have a greater say on the solar panel numbers to be installed.
The average home is considered to consume around 3-6kWh of energy every day. Some people are found to use a small amount of solar power. This means they will require less solar panels.
Tips to calculate appropriate solar array size
First, you need to be aware of the energy amount required to generate from the solar system on a daily basis. This will help you to calculate the size of the solar system required to be installed in your home. roof space and sun hours in the region are also a determining factor.
Your monthly energy bills also determine the energy amount consumed every day. Thus, you can know the energy amount to be generated daily.
In case, your March consumption is 124kWh, then daily energy consumption comes to about 4kWh. Hence, the solar system to install should be capable enough to generate a daily average of 4kWh. It is also considered to be the daily expected power output.
Similar process should be followed to invest and install in the appropriate solar panel size for your commercial business.
How to determine the individual size of solar panels?
To determine panel size for your house, get to know the following:
- Solar panel dimensions per brand or size.
- Roof capacity. Space available in square meters.
- What amount of energy is generated by solar panels of different capacities?
Based on their rating or wattage size, solar panels tend to generate varying energy amounts. A 300W panel is likely to generate about 300W/sun hour while 250W will generate just 250W. Hence, you need to identify the energy amount required before determining sizes of the solar panels.
If your daily consumption is 4,000W/hrs (4kWh) and you install 250W solar panels, then 16 solar panels will be essential. 12 solar panels will be required for 350W panels.
Remember solar panel sizes come with different dimensions. Moreover, as explained before, roof capacity does impact the number of panels to be installed and energy amount generated.
Therefore, if you install 12 350W panels, then the desired surface area will be 22.8sq.m. Again for 16 250W panels, 25.6sq.m. surface area will be required. Hence, you need to identify the available space to install the panels.
What solar panel type to install?
Available space, cost and efficiency is what determines the solar panel type to be selected for your home. A few types are found to be more efficient when compared to the others. It is likely to affect the panel numbers required to be installed.
For instance, less space will be required for monocrystalline panel installation, when compared to polycrystalline and thin film solar panels.
- Polycrystalline:
- More temperature tolerant
- Affordable
- 13-17 percent efficiency rate
- Sensitive towards high temperatures
- Monocrystalline:
- Less affected by various weather elements
- Require less installation space
- 15-20 percent efficiency rate
- Quite expensive
- Increasing temperature leads to lower performance
Doing a thorough research will enable you to select the most appropriate solar panel system for your home and enjoy its benefits.
