How to Size Solar Panels: A Professional Guide

If you're looking for a way to make your home more sustainable while saving money, solar panels are likely an attractive option. However, this eco-friendly energy solution can be bogged down by various calculations and measurements that must be considered. You may wonder, “What size solar panel do I need”? Thankfully, there is a helpful guide on sizing solar panels that will help simplify the process and give you the confidence you need to select the right setup for your home. In this blog post, we'll walk you through each step necessary in properly sizing solar panels for maximum efficiency and performance so that you can reap all of their benefits!

How to Determine What Size Solar Panel I Need?

To determine the appropriate size of solar panels for your needs, you should consider several factors that include your current energy use, the amount of sunlight in your area, the efficiency of the solar panels, average solar energy requirements, and the physical size of the solar panels. Let's delve into each of these factors.

Find Out Current Energy Use in Watts

Estimating your home energy use in watts requires gathering information about your appliances, their power ratings, and the average duration of their usage. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you estimate your home energy use:

1. Identify your appliances: Make a list of all the major appliances and electronic devices in your home that consume electricity. This includes items such as refrigerators, air conditioners, heaters, televisions, computers, washing machines, etc.

2. Determine the power rating: Look for the power rating (usually given in watts) of each appliance. This information can be found on the appliance itself, the user manual, or the product label. If the power rating is given in amps or volts, use the formula: power (in watts) = voltage (in volts) × current (in amps).

3. Calculate the energy consumption: Multiply the power rating of each appliance by the number of hours you use it per day. This will give you the energy consumption of each appliance in watt-hours (Wh) or kilowatt-hours (kWh). For example, if you have a 100-watt light bulb that you use for 3 hours per day, the energy consumption would be 300 watt-hours or 0.3 kilowatt-hours.

4. Add up the energy consumption: Sum up the energy consumption of all your appliances to get the total energy use in watt-hours or kilowatt-hours. This will give you an estimate of your daily energy consumption.

5. Some devices consume power even when they are in standby or idle mode. Take this into account when estimating your energy use. You can either find the standby power rating in the device specifications or assume a certain percentage (e.g., 10% of the active power) for estimation purposes.

Or you can check your electricity bill to know your energy consumption in the past year, then divide the annual consumption of electricity bills by 12 to get your monthly energy consumption. Once you get your monthly energy consumption, you can divide your monthly consumption by 30 to get your daily energy consumption.

Learn the Amount of Sunlight in Your Area

Determining the amount of sunlight in the United States involves considering various factors such as geographical location, climate, and local weather patterns. Here are a few ways to determine the amount of sunlight in US:

1. Solar irradiance maps: Solar irradiance maps provide valuable information about the amount of solar energy available in different regions of the country. These maps take into account factors like latitude, longitude, and elevation to estimate the solar irradiance levels. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) offers solar irradiance data and maps that can be accessed through their website.

2. NASA solar data: NASA provides solar data through their Surface Meteorology and Solar Energy (SSE) website. The SSE database includes information on solar radiation, sunlight hours, and other solar-related data. Users can input their location to obtain specific solar energy metrics.

3. Local weather stations: Local weather stations collect and provide data on solar radiation and sunlight hours. These stations are often operated by meteorological agencies, universities, or research institutions. You can access the data from these stations online or contact the respective organizations for information.

4. Climate data: Climate data sources, such as the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), maintain historical weather records, including solar radiation levels. These records can give you insights into average sunshine hours and solar energy potential in different regions of the country.

5. Solar monitoring tools: Various online solar monitoring tools and platforms provide real-time solar radiation data for specific locations. These tools use a network of solar sensors across the country to collect and share sunlight and solar energy data. They can provide detailed information on the amount of sunlight in specific areas.

6. Consult solar professionals: Solar installers, energy consultants, or engineers specializing in solar energy can offer valuable insights into the amount of sunlight in your specific location. They have expertise in analyzing solar potential and can provide customized assessments based on your geographical area.

It's important to note that sunlight levels can vary across different states and regions within the United States due to differences in climate, latitude, and local weather conditions. When you get the amount of sunlight in your area, divide your daily energy consumption (let’s assume it’s 30Kwh) by sunlight hours (assume it’s 5h):

30kWh/5h = 6kW solar array

Get the Efficiency of the Solar Panels

The efficiency of solar panels is a crucial factor in determining their performance. It refers to the ability of the panels to convert sunlight into usable electricity. Higher-efficiency panels can generate more power from the same amount of sunlight, maximizing energy production. When selecting solar panels, it's important to consider their efficiency rating.

For instance, let's consider the Anker 531 solar panel, which boasts an impressive conversion efficiency rate of up to 23%. This means that this particular panel can convert up to 23% of the sunlight it receives into electricity. Higher efficiency translates to higher power output, allowing you to generate more energy for your needs. Its solar input power is 200W, so under ideal conditions with sufficient sunlight, you need:

6000W(6kW)/200W=30 solar panels

However, in practical scenarios, solar panels typically perform slightly below their laboratory-tested conditions, resulting in a slightly lower power output than their wattage rating suggests. Considering these factors, it is advisable to allocate additional solar capacity to ensure that you can achieve your desired production levels while accounting for system inefficiencies.

A recommended approach is to budget around 20% extra capacity as a safety margin for inefficiencies. To incorporate this, you can multiply the size of your solar array by 1.2 (equivalent to 120%) to compensate for these factors:

For example, if your solar array size is 6 kW, multiplying it by 1.2 would yield a 7.2 kW solar array. This extra capacity helps offset any inefficiencies and ensures that you can meet your target production figures more reliably.

Calculate Average Solar Energy Requirements

The physical size of the solar panels is an important consideration, especially if you have limited roof space or specific installation requirements. Solar panels come in different sizes, so it's essential to measure the available space accurately and consider any obstructions such as chimneys or vents.

Determine the Solar Panel Size You Need

Based on the information gathered, you can now determine the size of the solar panel system you need. Consider the solar panel efficiency, average solar energy requirements, and the physical space available.

Let’s say you have enough space to put solar panels, if 100% of your home's energy consumption needs to be supplied by solar panels, then you need:

7.2kW/200W Anker 531 solar panel = 36 solar panels

Conclusion

Sizing solar panels appropriately is crucial to maximizing the energy production and optimizing the return on your investment. By considering factors such as your current energy use, sunlight availability, solar panel efficiency, average energy requirements, and physical space limitations, you can determine the right size of solar panels for your needs. Remember to consult with solar professionals and utilize online resources to make an informed decision. With the right-sized solar panel system, you can harness the power of the sun and reduce your carbon footprint while enjoying the benefits of renewable energy.

FAQ

What Is the Rule of Thumb for Sizing Solar Panels?

The solar industry commonly advises orienting solar panels towards the equator and mounting them at an angle of inclination that corresponds to the latitude of the installation site. This practice allows solar panels to maximize their exposure to sunlight and optimize energy production.

How Many Kilowatts Is a Typical House?

The kilowatt (kW) capacity of a typical house can vary depending on factors such as size, location, and energy usage patterns. On average, American homes consume 900 kWh per month or 30 kWh per day, the total yearly usage would be approximately 10,800 kWh.