This Is How Many Solar Panels You Need to Power Your House
This formula will tell you how many solar panels are needed to meet 100% of your home’s energy demand.
Jackie Lam is a contributor for CNET Money. A personal finance writer for over 8 years, she covers money management, insurance, investing, banking and personal stories. An AFC® accredited financial coach, she is passionate about helping freelance creatives design money systems on irregular income, gain greater awareness of their money narratives and overcome mental and emotional blocks. She is the 2022 recipient of Money Management International’s Financial Literacy and Education in Communities (FLEC) Award and a two-time Plutus Awards nominee for Best Freelancer in Personal Finance Media. She lives in Los Angeles where she spends her free time swimming, drumming and daydreaming about stickers.
- She is the 2022 recipient of Money Management International’s Financial Literacy and Education in Communities (FLEC) Award and a two-time Plutus Awards nominee for Best Freelancer in Personal Finance Media.
Taylor Freitas is a freelance writer and has contributed to publications including LA Weekly, Safety.com, and Hospitality Technology. She holds a B.A. in Print and Digital Journalism from the University of Southern California.
Chi Odogwu is a digital consultant, professor, and writer with over a decade of experience in finance and management consulting. He has a strong background in the private equity sector, having worked as a consultant at PwC and a research analyst at Renaissance Capital. Additionally, he has bylines in well-known publications, including Entrepreneur, Forbes, NextAdvisor, and CNET. He has also leveraged his writing talent to create educational email courses for his clients and ghostwritten op-eds published in top-tier publications such as Forbes, CoinDesk, CoinTelegraph, Insider, Decrypt, and Blockworks. In addition to his writing, education, and business pursuits, Chi hosts the top-rated Bulletproof Entrepreneur Podcast. Through this podcast, he engages in insightful conversations with talented individuals from various fields, allowing him to share a wealth of knowledge and inspiration with his listeners.
High inflation and the soaring costs of power bills can make powering your home with solar energy quite appealing. And if the allure of going green and saving money has you wanting to go solar, you’ll need to figure a few things before the installer swings by. For one, the number of solar panels to adequately meet your home energy needs.
A common misconception is to gauge how much bang for your buck you’re getting purely based on wattage, says Courtney Corda, co-founder of the California-based solar company Corda Solar. Knowing how many panels you need isn’t just about wattage, but the costs involved in installing, panel performance, location and your usage needs, Corda explains.
Here’s how to figure out how many panels can support your energy needs and what other factors can interfere in your production goals.
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How to calculate how many solar panels you will need
To get a realistic estimate of how many solar panels a home might need, we turned to Jake Edie, an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois Chicago. Edie provided us with a straightforward calculation method.
If you’re curious about how many solar panels your home might require, here’s how you can figure it out, Edie says. Let’s say your household uses 1,500 kWh of electricity each month. Here are the steps to calculate the solar panels you’ll need.
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Step 1. Review your monthly electric bill: It’s important to determine how many kilowatt-hours of electricity you consume monthly. In this example, this particular home uses 1,500 kWh every month.
Step 2. Convert monthly energy use to daily use: Given 1,500 kWh is consumed per month, to ascertain the daily usage, we need to divide this figure by the average number of days in a month, which is roughly 30.42 days (365 days divided by 12 months).
Hence, the average daily use = 1,500 kWh / 30.42, approximating 49.3 kWh daily.
Step 3. Determine peak sunlight hours: This factor varies based on location and climate. For this example, let’s assume that this home receives an average of about five peak sunlight hours per day.
To calculate the total daily energy production required, divide the daily energy consumption by the number of peak sunlight hours. This gives the amount of energy your solar panels need to produce per day.
Energy production required = 49.3 kWh per day / 5 hours, which equals 9.86 kW.
Step 4. Calculate the number of panels: Lastly, you’ll need to determine the wattage of the solar panels you plan to install. The average solar panel in the US is rated between 250 and 400 watts. For this example, we’ll assume the selected solar panel has a rating of 350 watts.
By dividing 350 by 1,000, we can convert this to kilowatts or kW. Therefore, 350 watts equals 0.35 kW.
To determine the required number of solar panels, we must divide the daily energy production needed by the solar panel’s power output.
Number of solar panels required = 9.86 kW / 0.35 kW per panel, which equals 28.17 panels.
This homeowner will need approximately 29 solar panels to generate enough electricity to match their current usage from the municipal electric company. While this calculation may seem straightforward, there are many factors that can affect the effectiveness of solar panels, such as shading, roof orientation, and seasonal variations in peak sunlight.
It is highly recommended that you seek the guidance of a professional solar installer who can assess your circumstances and provide a tailored solution to meet your needs.They should be certified from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, which is the solar industry standard. CNET also has a well-researched list of best solar companies.
Other factors that affect how many solar panels you need
There are a variety of factors to take into consideration that will help you and an installer determine how many solar panels you need to power your home. Here is a breakdown:
Solar panel wattage
One big part of a solar panel’s performance is its wattage and will affect how many panels you need. The higher the wattage, the more power a panel can generate.
Most residential solar panels have ratings of 250 to 400 watts. The most efficient solar panels on the market are 370 to 445-watt models. The higher the wattage rating, the higher the output. In turn, the fewer panels you might need.
For example, you might buy a solar panel with a listed output of 440 watts. You’ll need to multiply the panel’s wattage by how many hours of sun you get every day to understand how much energy it will produce.
If you don’t have much space, you might want to invest in solar panels with higher efficiency and wattage ratings since they’re equipped to generate more energy per panel. But they’re also more expensive, so bear that in mind if the solar budget for your home is tight.
Output efficiency
If your roof has limited space for panels, you’re going to want to get the most performance per square inch of panel that you can, explains Corda.
Scientists and technical developers of solar panels have been working hard for decades to try to make each solar cell on the panel able to convert more of the sun’s light to electricity than before, or to make them more efficient, says Corda.
As she explains, currently, the most efficient panels on the market have anywhere from 18% to 22.8% efficiency, with most panels hovering around 20% efficiency. So the higher the efficiency, the fewer solar panels you might need.
In reality, a more efficient solar panel will require fewer panels overall for your home, assuming all other factors are equal.
Production ratios
A production ratio for solar panels helps you determine how much energy you can get from a panel. The production ratio, or performance ratio, is an important measure of the effectiveness and efficiency of a solar system. It compares the actual output of the system to the output it would produce under ideal conditions. This ratio takes into account factors that reduce output, such as temperature, dust, snow, shade, aging of the panels and inefficiencies in the inverter.
The performance ratio is expressed as a percentage, with a higher ratio indicating that the PV system is producing a greater percentage of its theoretical output. For example, a performance ratio of 80% means that the system is producing 80% of its rated output in real-world conditions. The higher the production ratios, the fewer panels you might need.
Panel size
There are three main sizes for solar panels: 60-cell, 72-cell and 96-cell. The 60- and 72-cell panels are more common for residential installations are generally about 3 by 5 feet, or 15 square feet.
Where you live and hours of sunlight
The more hours of sunlight your roof is exposed to, the fewer panels you’ll probably need to install. This is based on the direction, pitch and orientation of your roof, the weather and how much shade covers the roof. It also depends on the time of year and where you live.
In the winter [the solar panel] produces less than in the summer. So your energy production from solar will change throughout the year and then the usage within your home will change depending on what appliances are using electricity, says Justin Draplin, CEO of Eclipse Cottages, a sustainable home technology and development company.
So if you live in a really hot climate, then during the summer months, your electrical bill is going to be a lot higher to cool your home versus if you’re in a cold environment, your electrical bills are going to be a lot higher in the winter.
How much shade your roof gets always plays a factor in how many solar panels you’ll need for your home, Corda says. If your roof is covered by large oak trees or a chimney and gets a lot of shade, this will bump down solar panel output. In turn, you might need more panels to power your home. But if your roof doesn’t get much shade, your solar output will be higher for the same space.
Roof type and condition
The orientation, angle, shape and type of roof will affect the number of panels you can reasonably fit into a given area, explains Corda.
A home without a complicated roof structure, pitched at a 10 degree angle and south-facing is best for solar panels.
That would be an ideal roof for solar because you’ve got it tilted, it’s facing south, and the pitch of the roof is neither flat nor very steep, which is ideal for putting panels on there to capture as much energy from the sun as possible, says Corda. A house with a more complicated roof structure won’t be able to fit as many panels, she adds. For instance, Spanish tile-roofs are considered solar unfriendly and require special attachments.
Cost and budget
While powering your home on solar energy can save you money, it does require a serious investment upfront. The costs to power your home on solar and your budget will determine how many solar panels you can afford.
Currently, the average cost for a home solar panel system is around 3 per watt, according to data from the research firm Wood Mackenzie. Based on this figure, an 8-kilowatt sized system would be 24,000 before any tax breaks or incentives kick in.
Whether you are paying cash or financing, knowing what you can afford will play a factor in how many panels you add to your home.
Annual electricity usage
To know how many panels will meet your energy demand, you’ll need to know your annual energy usage. You can log onto your account online, review statements, you’ll see how many kilowatt hours of electricity you use. You’re going to want to look at your patterns over the course of a year.- if not the last couple of years, says Corda.
Once you have that number, you’ll know how much solar power you need to generate to cover your needs.
Besides recent use, factor in the future energy needs, Corda points out. For instance, do you anticipate purchasing an electric vehicle? Or do you plan on growing your family? Or are you and your spouse going to be working from home more? If so, then your energy needs will go up in the future years. On the flip side, if your teens will soon leave the nest to go to college, then you can expect your energy usage to taper off.
Your personal solar goals
Determining your personal solar goal is figuring out what you want to achieve with your solar panel addition. Living completely energy independent and off the grid would mean more solar panels. If you want to power your whole house, you have to really oversize it to make sure you have enough power in the winter, even though you’re going to be over producing in the summer, says Draplin.
Adding battery storage will also play a factor in how many panels you need. With solar battery storage, you can essentially bank energy and store it for later use when you’re producing excess energy.
If your goal is to lower your energy bill or reduce your carbon footprint, then maybe you won’t need as many panels, says Draplin.
Figuring out the number of solar panels you need is only part of the equation. Learn more about the benefits and costs of home solar from CNET:
Solar panel FAQs
Can I run my house on solar power only?
The simple answer is: Yes, you can power a house entirely on solar power. To meet your energy ends, you’ll want to factor in a handful of variables: the size, pitch and orientation of your roof, the size of panels you’d like to install, the amount of shade, output efficiency and wattage. Plus, you want to figure out current and future usage needs, and whether you want your entire home to be powered on solar energy or just part of it.
Adding solar panels to an existing system: what you need to know
If you’ve gone solar, you’ve already decreased (or possibly eliminated) your electricity bill. But you may want to add more solar panels to your existing system; your solar panel system could be undersized to begin with, or you might have increased your electricity usage since installation due to new additions to your house, new appliances, or adding an electric vehicle (EV) purchase.
The process for adding additional panels onto your existing system isn’t going to be the same as when you were originally shopping for a solar panel system. As you’re investigating your options, here are a few key factors to keep in mind.
Factors to consider for adding new solar panels to an existing system
If you want to add solar panels to your existing system, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Energy needs
How many additional solar panels do you need? This is going to be the first question to address, as it will affect both your system design and the cost for the add-on project.
Space for new panels
Do you have enough space to install additional solar panels? If you have a rooftop system with constrained space, the answer may be no. Ground mount systems can be a bit easier to add onto because property owners with ground mounts typically have a lot of sunny land available for install.
Solar panel upgrade and compatibility
What panels were used in your original installation, and does any component require an upgrade? Your solar panels will continue to generate electricity for more than 25 years, at which point you might see more significant dips in production, so it’s unlikely you’ll need to replace the panels of the original system. But still ask your installer to check everything, including the racking and wiring.
When adding new panels, it’s a good idea to install the same type as your original array if possible. This ensures everything will match aesthetically, and has the same power outputs and efficiencies as your other panels. If you’re unable to install the exact same panels, you should still look to install new panels with the same or similar power output – otherwise you could damage your existing array.
Inverter replacement
Is your inverter large enough for the additional panels? Depending on how much more new capacity you add onto your system, you may need to replace your inverter. When an installer sizes your central inverter, it’s based on the power output of your panels. Because the direct current (DC) electricity being produced by your panels is being converted to alternating current (AC) at the inverter, the power rating of that inverter can be a bit smaller than the panels because of the energy loss that occurs during the conversion process. If you’re adding quite a few panels and your entire solar panel system is much larger than the original size, it may generate more electricity than your pre-existing inverter can handle.
Add-on projects are a bit easier if your original solar panel system uses microinverters as opposed to a power optimizer or string inverter system. Because microinverters are located at each individual panel, you don’t have to worry about inverter capacity issues and can just install additional microinverters with the new panels.
Installer to add on the panels
Does your original installer do add-on projects? If so, it’s going to be the easiest to contact them first to see if they can do the work. They will already be familiar with your system and property and will be best equipped to add more panels onto their own handiwork.
That being said, this may not be an option for you if you had a bad experience with your original installer, or if they’ve since gone out of business. You can always shop around for a new installer to do the work when it comes adding more panels onto your solar array but may have a harder time finding a solar company to do the work. Some installation companies that will avoid doing add-on projects for installations that aren’t their own. This happens for two major reasons: they don’t want to deal with conflicting warranties on the overall installation, or the size of the project isn’t large enough. A lot of installation companies won’t want to encounter disputes down the line about whose job it is to fix a part of the system, especially because the original work is not their own and they can’t stand by it.
With regards to system size, many installers have a minimum system size they will install for their own profit margins. A typical add-on project may be installing only a few panels, which will mean much less profit than they would see on a standard residential installation. Depending on their resources and installation calendar, many companies will choose to FOCUS their efforts on larger projects.
Permitting and interconnection
Will installing additional panels on your property require pulling additional permits, or submitting additional interconnection documentation to your utility company? This can depend on a number of factors, including how many additional panels you’re adding, whether a new inverter is required, and your local area’s permitting requirements. If you are adding more than a couple kilowatts (kW) to a system and have to replace your inverter, it’s more likely that you’ll have to submit another interconnection application with your utility company.
Any installer you’re working with for an add-on project should be aware of any permits or interconnection requirements and will help file for these as well as part of the overall cost of the add-on project.
Incentives
If you’re adding additional panels onto your system, you may not be eligible for some of the same incentives (such as tax credits and rebates) that you claimed when you originally installed your system. Many incentives are only allowed to be claimed once per property, or once per person.
Performance-based-incentives (PBIs) can be a bit complicated when it comes to add-on projects. Because the incentive amounts are based on how much electricity your system is generating, you may run into some complications if you have a new inverter and have to re-file for interconnection.
Always have a conversation with your solar installer about what incentives you will and will not be eligible for when it comes to your add-on solar project, and talk to a tax advisor or accountant when it comes to questions regarding tax credits you may be eligible for.
Add solar panels to an existing system on EnergySage
With any solar project, big or small, it’s good to shop around. By signing up on the EnergySage Marketplace, you can receive multiple quotes to compare costs for solar. If you’re looking to add panels onto your existing system, note that in your account, along with information about your existing system (equipment, system size) so that installers can provide you with the most accurate quotes possible.
reading on EnergySage
Looking to go solar? Here’s everything you need to know in… Are solar panels worth it in 2023? Best solar panels in 2023: Top products compared How to install solar panels Solar leasing: what you need to know
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?
Lexie came from HomeAdvisor and Angi (formerly Angie’s list) and is responsible for writing and editing articles over a wide variety of home-related topics. She has almost four years’ experience in the home improvement space.
We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Home. Commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
Solar panels have enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity in recent decades. That’s thanks in part to an increase in environmentally responsible behavior and the desire to reduce energy bills by exchanging traditional sources of heating, cooling and electricity with cleaner, more natural sources. If you’re thinking of making this switch, you’re probably wondering how many solar panels it takes to power a house.
While the answer can be a bit complicated, if you hire a professional or solar panel installation company to consult with, they’ll likely handle this part of the process as well (and may give you tips on how to maintain and clean solar panels ).
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But if you’re wondering how many solar panels you may need, and you’d like to take a stab at calculating it yourself, you’ll need a few pieces of information: how much energy your household uses; how much space you have on your roof that can be used for solar panel placement, how many hours of sun your home gets and the wattage and relative efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) solar panels you’ll be installing.
How to Determine Solar Panel Needs
In order to learn how many solar panels are needed to power a house, you’ll use a formula with three key factors, according to EnergySage: annual energy usage, panel wattage and production ratios. But what does that mean exactly?
Annual Electricity Usage
The first step is to determine your annual electricity usage; that’s the amount of electricity consumed by your entire household in a year. Measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), this number includes all sources of electricity in your home, including small and large appliances, air conditioning units, lights, air purifiers and water heaters. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicates the average household consumes about 11,000 kWh of electricity per year.
Solar Panel Wattage
When choosing the best solar panels you may think they look mostly the same, but they aren’t exactly created equally, so you’ll need to know the wattage of the panels you’re hoping to install. The panel wattage is the amount of electricity emitted from the panel. Most solar panels range between 250 to 400 watts of power, so it’s safe to assume 300 is the average panel wattage you might find.
Production Ratios
According to EnergySage, a solar panel system’s production ratio is the ratio of the estimated energy output of a system over time (in kWh) to the actual system size (in W). You might think that this would be a 1:1 ratio – that you get out what goes in. But variations in the amount of sunlight that beams down on your home cause that not to be the case.
A 10 kW system that produces 16 kWh of electricity in a year will have a production ratio of 1.6 (16/10 = 1.6). In a place like Hawaii, which enjoys long days and consistent sunshine, it’s totally possible to have this type of ratio, whereas cloudy, rainy New England might see an average production ratio of only 1.2
Calculate How Many Solar Panels You Need
Here’s the actual formula, used by EnergySage, that you can use you’re hoping to determine how many solar panels you’ll need:
- Number of panels = system size / production ratio / panel wattage
- Using the numbers we’ve determined so far, we get:
- Number of panels = 11,000 kW / 1.6 / 300 W
That equates to about 20 to 25 solar panels to do the job. You can use this same formula to determine how many solar panels you’ll need to power your home. Or, you can use the easier route, which is to look at your energy bill to determine what you’ll need.
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An Alternative Way to Figure Out Solar Energy Usage
If you’re not interested in doing the math on your own, simply look at your utility bills to figure out how much energy you’re using. Doing this allows you to multiply your energy usage by the number of hours of strong sunlight your home gets, then dividing that result by the wattage of the panels you’re thinking of installing.
Factors that Affect How Many Solar Panels You Will Need
Is there anything else to think about outside of the above calculations? Turns out, there are a few other things factors need to consider when determining how many solar panels to power a house.
Solar Panel Output Efficiency
Your solar panels won’t draw the sun’s energy at top capacity all the time. Think of those three-day bouts of rain that come in the fall, or large snowfalls in the winter that take several days to melt. Those are times you’ll need a buffer in your energy usage, so it’s recommended to have about 25% more solar panels than you need.
Hours of Sunlight
The amount of energy you’ll get from your solar panels is directly related to how much sun your home gets. panels will be required if you live in an area without long hours of strong sunshine.
Wattage of Your Panels
Most solar panels range in wattage from 150 to 350 watts per panel. If you choose lower wattage panels, you’ll need more in order to generate enough energy for your home. Of course, that’s assuming you’d like to replace 100% of your energy usage with solar energy. If you’re only hoping for a partial conversion, the difference in solar panel wattage may not matter as much.
Cost of Solar Panels
How much do you want to or plan to spend on your solar panels ? Before you buy, make sure you know how many make sense for your budget.
Solar Panel Size
To understand how many solar panels you’ll need, you must know the standard sizes of solar panels to know how many you can place on your roof. The area of a residential 60-cell solar panel is 17.62 square feet, and the area of a commercial 72-cell solar panel is 21.13 square feet. Solar panel installation companies will measure the area of your roof to determine how many panels can be installed safely.
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Solar Array: Working, Components, Features, Uses, Price, Applications, and Benefits
A solar array is an essential component of a solar panel system. It comes in various sizes and energy requirements. It combines the solar panels and keeps them together.
A solar array also helps the panels to generate electricity from the sun’s rays and supply it to different households.
The number of solar panels required in a PV array depends on the direction of the roof, the installation location, and the electricity consumption rate. Based on these three criteria, the solar panels required by each house might be different.
Solar cell arrays are vital components in a solar panel system. Failing to install them might lead to a function failure.
Working Of a Solar Array
The solar array is mainly responsible for passing the electric current to the solar inverter.
When the sun rays fall on the surface of the solar panels, the silicon cells take the energy. Through their conductive properties, these silicon cells transform the sun rays into electricity.
When this conversion happens, the electrons within the cells charge up and start moving restlessly. This motion forms the electric current which passes from the wires to the solar cell arrays.
Through the cables, the arrays deliver direct current to the solar inverter. The solar inverter then converts the direct current to alternating current.
Solar Array – What’s the Composition?
Solar arrays are made of photovoltaic cells combined in a string. Each string has a maximum of 20 panels aligned in a row.
When electrically connected with a wire, the solar panels form a large PV installation known as a solar array. The larger the surface area, the more panels are needed.
If more panels are adjoined, the arrays required will be higher. arrays will result in better electricity.
A photovoltaic panel mainly has a voltage of 12V or 24V. Depending on the electric power required, the panels required to produce electric current can be more or less.
Features Of Solar Array
The characteristics of solar arrays are as follows:
- A solar array prohibits light reflection. Thus, it can hold the electricity from the sun’s rays for a long time.
- It has a distinct layout and comes in different sizes for small and large area installations.
- A solar cell array is lightweight but has a sturdy composition. It can hold the panels together efficiently.
- It can function under harsh climatic conditions without causing failures.
- It has a simple design and is easy to install.
- Solar cell arrays have a shelf life of 25 years.
- These arrays are useful for both residential and commercial applications.
Where Can You Put Solar Arrays?
Although solar arrays fit everywhere, the area with direct sunlight exposure is the perfect location for them. Hence, the home rooftop is an ideal setting for installation.
The energy generation would be maximum if the solar array faces towards the South. That’s because the South is the direction that receives maximum sunlight in India.
Another excellent alternative for mounting solar panels is mounting them on the ground. Land installations are easier in rural locations because of the area’s size.
The third suitable location for the solar arrays is a solar canopy. It supports the solar array in a suspended position. Since they take up a lot of space, solar canopies are an ideal solution to this problem.
How Much Does Solar Array Cost?
The cost of a solar array installation (and the system) ranges between 15,000 (Rs. 11,71,718) to 25,000 (Rs. 19,57,775).
Many factors affect the price of a solar array. The colour, power density, energy consumption, size, and interconnection cost are common factors that influence the total price of solar cell arrays.
If more panels are installed, big solar cell arrays will be required to keep them together. The larger the array’s size, the higher the price.
Thus, the total number of solar cell panels also contributes to the entire cost. Homeowners can build solar cell arrays at a lower cost by fitting them in a confined space.
Applications Of Solar Array
There are many applications of solar arrays for residential and industrial purposes. The basic ones are as follows:
- Since solar arrays help generate electricity, users can utilise them to charge electric devices like mobiles, laptops, heaters, air conditioners, coolers, television, washing machines, and other household appliances.
- The solar cell array can be used in domestic and light industrial applications.
- The large-sized solar arrays can be used in powering updraft towers, solar satellites, large-scale renewable energy systems, and industrial processes and units.
- You can use solar arrays to conserve energy.
- It is essential for greenhouse heating.
Sizing Of Solar Array
Understanding the right size of a solar array is essential to determining the total energy output. Therefore, homeowners must first find out the number of electricity units they consume every month.
The right solar cell array size will depend on the units of electricity that are needed to meet the power required to run the household smoothly.
It is essential to note that the size can differ from one part of the country to the other. Knowing the rate in a specific city is vital before selecting the size of the solar array.
Benefits Of Using Solar Array
The advantages of using a solar array are as follows:
- It holds the solar panels firmly together.
- The PV array allows easy transmission of electric current to the solar inverter.
- It ensures maximum energy output.
- It helps produce energy without gas emissions.
- It has a good shelf life.
- It guarantees easy installation on the rooftop, ground, or solar canopies.
- It allows panels to work efficiently and supply current in all home equipment. As a result, the electricity bill reduces.
- It keeps the grid structure intact.
- It is ideal for use in both urban and rural locations.
- It is simple to install in parallel or series configuration.
Conclusion
A solar array is a crucial component of a solar panel. The panels cannot function together without a solar array. Both of them combined help to produce the desired electricity for various household or industrial applications.
Therefore, setting up a solar cell array is an essential investment to ensure the proper conversion of the sun’s energy into electric current. Besides, it can cut down on the electricity bill and provide free electricity for a long time.
FAQs
Q1. How can I calculate the solar array size?
To calculate the solar array size, you need to divide the solar system size by the watt capacity of each panel. It will help you decide the number of panels you need. Based on that, you can purchase the correct solar array size.
Q2. What are the different types of PV array arrangements?
The different types of PV array arrangements are as follows:
- Series connection
- Parallel connection
- Series-parallel connection
- Total cross-tied connection
- Bridge connection
- Honeycomb connection
Q3. Can I combine solar panels in an array?
Yes, you can mix solar panels in an array. However, it is advisable not to do so as it can affect the current or voltage.
What Is A Solar Panel?
A Solar panels (also known as PV panels) is a device that converts light from the sun, which is composed of particles of energy called photons, into electricity that can be used to power electrical loads.
Solar panels can be used for a wide variety of applications including remote power systems for cabins, telecommunications equipment, remote sensing, and of course for the production of electricity by residential and commercial solar electric systems.
On this page, we will discuss the history, technology, and benefits of solar panels. We will learn how solar panels work, how they are made, how they create electricity, and where you can buy solar panels.
A Short History of Solar Panels
The development of solar energy goes back more than 100 years. In the early days, solar energy was used primarily for the production of steam which could then be used to drive machinery. But it wasn’t until the discovery of the photovoltaic effect by Edmond Becquerel that would allow the conversion of sunlight solar electric energy. Becquerel’s discovery then led to the invention in 1893 by Charles Fritts of the first genuine solar cell which was formed by coating sheets of selenium with a thin layer of gold. And from this humble beginning would arise the device we know today as the solar panel.
Russel Ohl, an American inventor on the payroll of Bell Laboratories, patented the world’s first silicon solar cell in 1941. Ohl’s invention led to the production of the first solar panel in 1954 by the same company. Solar panels found their first mainstream use in space satellites. For most people, the first solar panel in their life was probably embedded in their new calculator. circa the 1970s!
Today, solar panels and complete solar panel systems are used to power a wide variety of applications. Yes, solar panels in the form of solar cells are still being used in calculators. However, they are also being used to provide solar power to entire homes and commercial buildings, such as Google’s headquarters in California.
How Do Solar Panels Work?
Solar panels collect clean renewable energy in the form of sunlight and convert that light into electricity which can then be used to provide power for electrical loads. Solar panels are comprised of several individual solar cells which are themselves composed of layers of silicon, phosphorous (which provides the negative charge), and boron (which provides the positive charge). Solar panels absorb the photons and in doing so initiate an electric current. The resulting energy generated from photons striking the surface of the solar panel allows electrons to be knocked out of their atomic orbits and released into the electric field generated by the solar cells which then pull these free electrons into a directional current. This entire process is known as the Photovoltaic Effect. An average home has more than enough roof area for the necessary number of solar panels to produce enough solar electricrity to supply all of its power needs excess electricity generated goes onto the main power grid, paying off in electricity use at night.
In a well-balanced grid-connected configuration, a solar array generates power during the day that is then used in the home at night. Net metering programs allow solar generator owners to get paid if their system produces more power than what is needed in the home. In off-grid solar applications, a battery bank, charge controller, and in most cases, an inverter are necessary components. The solar array sends direct current (DC) electricity through the charge controller to the battery bank. The power is then drawn from the battery bank to the inverter, which converts the DC current into alternating current (AC) that can be used for non-DC appliances. Assisted by an inverter, solar panel arrays can be sized to meet the most demanding electrical load requirements. The AC current can be used to power loads in homes or commercial buildings, recreational vehicles and boats, remote cabins, cottages, or homes, remote traffic controls, telecommunications equipment, oil and gas flow monitoring, RTU, SCADA, and much more.
The Benefits of Solar Panels
Using solar panels is a very practical way to produce electricity for many applications. The obvious would have to be off-grid living. Living off-grid means living in a location that is not serviced by the main electric utility grid. Remote homes and cabins benefit nicely from solar power systems. No longer is it necessary to pay huge fees for the installation of electric utility poles and cabling from the nearest main grid access point. A solar electric system is potentially less expensive and can provide power for upwards of three decades if properly maintained.
Besides the fact that solar panels make it possible to live off-grid, perhaps the greatest benefit that you would enjoy from the use of solar power is that it is both a clean and a renewable source of energy. With the advent of global climate change, it has become more important that we do whatever we can to reduce the pressure on our atmosphere from the emission of greenhouse gases. Solar panels have no moving parts and require little maintenance. They are ruggedly built and last for decades when porperly maintained.
Last, but not least, of the benefits of solar panels and solar power is that, once a system has paid for its initial installation costs, the electricity it produces for the remainder of the system’s lifespan, which could be as much as 15-20 years depending on the quality of the system, is absolutely free! For grid-tie solar power system owners, the benefits begin from the moment the system comes online, potentially eliminating monthy electric bills or, and this is the best part, actually earning the system’s owner additional income from the electric company. How? If you use less power than your solar electric system produces, that excess power can be sold, sometimes at a premium, to your electric utility company!
There are many other applications and benefits of using solar panels to generate your electricity needs. too many to list here. But as you browse our website, you’ll gain a good general knowledge of just how versatile and convenient solar power can be.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
for solar panels has decreased substantially in the last couple of years. This is great because, combined with the 30 federal solar Investment Tax Credit and other applicable incentives, NOW is the best time ever to invest in a solar power system. And, consider this: a solar power system costs about the same as a mid-sized car!
Where can I buy solar panels?
Well, right here on this website, of course!
Our solar panel brands include the most respected manufacturers in the solar panel business. These brands include such names as BP Solar, General Electric, and Sharp, among others. We feature only the highest quality solar panels from manufacturers with a proven track record in solar panel technology. With over 30 years in the solar panel business, you can be sure that at MrSolar.com, we know solar panels!