How Many Watts Does a Solar Panel Produce?
Recently a woman – we’ll call her Jackie – was considering a solar conversion and sent a question. Read how her concerns about “how many watts does a solar panel produce” are addressed.
From Jackie on How Many Watts a Solar Panel Produces
We vegged on the couch one evening, as we often do. Suddenly, my darling better half burst out with “How many watts does a solar panel produce?” It took me totally by surprise. I vaguely remembered discussing this info before and thought he already had this information. Suddenly, I realized I didn’t actually know the answer either. Quickly I texted the question to Google. We just needed a ballpark number. And here is the problem. There is a broad range of wattage per hour a solar panel produces. Solar panels produce between 100 and 500 watts per hour. How do we know what to expect?
The Answer on How Many Watts a Solar Panel Produces
The amount of power produced by one solar panel depends on the panel size and installation location. Most solar panels produced today generate between 250 and 400 watts per hour each. A 300 watt panel getting 8 hours of sunlight daily can produce about 2.4 kilowatt hours per day, or 876 kilowatt hours annually. This will vary, since there is more daylight hours in the summer and slightly less daylight hours in the winter, but it gives you an idea. So how much do you need to run your home? Keep reading…
What Jackie Likes About Renewable Solar Resource:
I think this is one of the things I like best about Renewable Solar Resources. Before delivering a solar installation feasibility report, Renewable Solar reviews your home as it is. What appliances you use, how many kilowatt hours does your summer cooling system use, etc. An energy audit is included to help you determine how to change over your aged, energy hog appliances or your old wasteful cooling system to a more energy efficient version. We started out using twice the average electricity of other Americans…and we are NOT a big family. Now, we have managed to bring our electricity usage more in line with others, in spite of running a business out of our home.
Our Response
Average annual electricity consumption for a US residential customer in 2020 was 10,715 kilowatt hours or 893 kWh per month. Since one panel produces just under that much per month, you would need to install more than one panel. In fact the average customer would need another eleven or twelve more panels. If you are a bigger electricity user, you would keep adding panels to cover your electricity usage.
How Solar Conversion Feasibility is Determined
But Jackie, there is more to it. When a Renewable Solar Resource Representative came to your home, we didn’t just check your appliances. We also took photovoltaic (PV) readings from several places on your property. All twelve panels may not fit on the PV exposed side of your home. The good news is that we have options to share with you. It is popular to have solar panels installed on roofs, but panels can also be set up in your yard if the area gets unobstructed sunlight. Some obstruction examples are trees, tall buildings, and in some areas, hills or mountain sides. Since your area, Jackie, doesn’t have these obstructions in the side yard that gets the best PV readings, we are confident that we can set up your system in the side yard or we can place panels in both locations.
The Factors Impacting Solar Conversion Decisions
There are several factors that come into play when considering whether a customer’s home would run effectively on Solar power. Current energy usage is available via recent electric bills. Then PV readings on your roof and other locations on your property help nail down the ideal installation logistics. It is important to consider the weight your roof can support without stress and the available square footage. You can use various calculators on the web, but to get real answers, for how many watts does a solar panel produce visit Renewable Solar Resources. It is best to have their representative come to your home and check all of the factors involved. With the right information, you can find the right solution to your green energy needs.
In Minnesota, Renewable Solar Resources has spent years working to support the transition to clean solar power systems on residential and commercial properties. Renewable Solar Resources believes in a clean energy future and has found solar to be an incredibly reliable energy source even in the north. Solar panels, inverters and solar storage have continued to become ever more efficient, making solar an incredibly affordable option for renewable energy of today and the future.