Before you decide how many solar panels you want to install, there are a few things to keep in mind when considering solar energy. One of these is the amount and quality of the sunlight available in your region. It is possible calculate how many panels you require by looking at your bill and subtracting the amount from the number of hours of direct sunlight. However, there are other factors you should consider.
Calculating the size of a solar panel system
It takes some math to calculate the size of a typical solar panel that will power a house. You first need to calculate how much electricity your household uses on a monthly base. Take a look at your electric bill from the last 12 month to find out. Add up the kWhs that have been used by each appliance and electronic. This will help you determine how much energy you can save by upgrading or replacing these appliances. While calculating the amount of solar energy your home will need, it is an important step to take.
When calculating the size for a solar panels system, there are several factors you should consider. It's not hard to calculate these numbers. You can also check your current utility bills to see how much energy you use each day. If you are consuming 370 watts of electricity per day, you'll need at the very least eighteen panels to offset that amount.
Peak sunshine hours
For calculating the amount of solar energy required to power a typical house you will need to know the average peak sunlight hours in your region. The number of these hours increases the closer you live to the equator, and decreases as you get farther north in latitude. For most areas, the average amount of peak sunlight is 3 to 5 hours per day.
You can divide the number peak sun hours by 1000 to calculate how many solar panel are required for an average house. The panel's output is 6.67 kWh. This number can be multiplied with the hours of daylight in your region.
There is a variation in the number of peak sunlight hours depending on state. It depends on weather, latitude, roof orientations and tilts. Sunny locations have higher peak sun hours because they are more likely during summer. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory produces detailed maps of insolation for each state, which can help you determine how many solar panels you need to power an average house during the peak sunlight hours.
Operating and maintaining a solar energy plant is expensive.
The initial installation of a solar energy system is usually free, but there are several costs associated with regular maintenance. Cleaning of solar panels, which can run around $200, is one of them. After heavy snowfalls, your system may need to be inspected. It is essential that you have your panels cleaned annually to make sure they are functioning efficiently.
You may need to clean your solar panel system from time to another, depending on its size. Regular cleaning will cost you $150 to $300 depending on how large your roof is and what type of setup it is. Some companies may require two-yearly inspections.
Solar on-grid systems cost between Rs 53,000 to Rs 60,000. However, prices can vary depending upon the system's size and roof type.