One of the most discussed topics when it comes to getting your home energy-efficient is how much energy does one solar panel generate? The general consensus is that you need to look into how much electricity you need and if any excess is being wasted to figure out how many solar panels you should get.
The general rule of thumb is that you should aim for at least 1 kilowatt per day (kW/day) of electricity you need. However, you should not put too much weight into this number because it all depends on various factors. If you want to get the most from your solar power system, you need to monitor its performance closely and make necessary adjustments so that your panel generates as much electricity as possible.
Monitoring Energy Output
You need to start by gathering some data about the energy consumption of your home. To do this, simply plug one of the outdoor outlets into an energy monitor. These devices will show you how much electricity you are actually generating and how much is being wasted.
Ensure that you purchase a quality energy monitor that has the capacity to record both the usable energy (that is not being wasted through heating or cooling) and the electricity generated by your solar panel system. This way, you will be able to accurately determine the exact amount of electricity that your solar panel system is generating. If you are getting less energy than you expected, then there is a chance that your solar panel system is not performing at its optimum capacity.
It is also a good idea to get a monitor that connects to the internet so that you can gain access to online tools that can help you maximize the energy output of your solar panel system. You can use these tools to check the energy levels of your solar panel system at any time and make necessary adjustments to get the best results.
What Factors Affect Energy Generation?
While the exact amount of energy generated by your solar panel system will depend on various factors, there are some that are more important than others. These will influence how much energy your solar panel system is able to generate.
The first and most fundamental factor is the amount of sunlight that falls on your solar panel system. The more sunlight that falls on your system, the more energy it will be able to generate. However, too much sunlight can be dangerous. You will need to find a way to shade your solar panel system so that it does not receive so much sunlight. In very hot climates, you will need to keep the shades on your solar panel system even when the sun is not directly overhead to prevent excess heating.
Also, if you live in a colder climate, you will need to ensure that your solar panel system does not overheat. You can prevent this by using an outdoor fan to cool your system.
As for the type of panel used, the general consensus is that mono-crystalline solar panels generate more energy than poly-crystalline ones. However, this is not always the case. In some situations, you will need to choose a poly-crystalline solar panel.
An additional factor that will influence the amount of energy your solar panel system generates is the material used to manufacture it. If you have a more premium material, then it will enhance the generation of energy. The most basic and fundamental rule for choosing a solar panel is that you need to get one that is lightweight and easy to install.
Ensure that you purchase a high-quality solar panel that is built from lighter materials. This way, you will be able to reduce the strain that the wiring and installation process places on your body. If you are not comfortable installing a solar panel system yourself, then hire competent professionals to do it for you.
How Many Watts Do I Need?
Once you have determined the basic factors that affect how much energy your solar panel system generates, you can move on to determining how many watts (W) of electricity you need. To do this, simply take your daily usage rate and multiply it by the number of years you intend to operate your system. For example, if you use 1 kW/day for six months and then reduce your usage to 300 W/day for the next six months, then you will have 12 months of use and your panel will have generated 108 hours of use (12 x 7 days a week for 12 months x 1 kW/day).
To continue the example, if you decide to use 300 W/day for the next six months and then reduce your usage to 200 W/day for the following six months, then you will have 18 months of use and your panel will have generated 126 hours of use (18 x 7 days a week for 18 months x 300 W/day).
Keep in mind that the efficiency of your panel will deteriorate over time and use. This means that even though you may initially get satisfactory results with a specific wattage, you will eventually start losing energy if you run your system at that wattage for an extended period of time.
To prevent this from happening, you need to either replace your panel or reduce the wattage. The first option is the most practical one because there is always the danger of running out of energy even though your panel is still capable of generating energy. In this situation, you will need to reduce your load or use additional sources of energy to make up for what your solar panel is not able to generate. This will help ensure that you do not run out of electricity.
On the other hand, if you decide to replace your panel because it is still capable of generating energy but is not giving you the results you need, then it is a good idea to purchase a higher-efficiency model.
How Many Kilowatt Hours (kWh) Can My Panel Generate?
Now that you know how much energy your solar panel system generates, you can also determine how much electricity you will need to generate in order to make your home energy-efficient. To do this, simply take the amount of energy your panel generates, multiply it by the number of hours it generates, and then divide it by 1000. For example, if you have 1 kW/day of energy generation and you use it for 12 hours a day, then your panel will be able to generate 12 kWh of electricity per day. This number will vary depending on the time of day and the weather conditions, so keep this in mind.
If you use a kilowatt hour (kWh) meter, then you will be able to track how much electricity you generate and how much is wasted in your home. This way, you will be able to determine how much money you are saving and how much more energy you are actually generating compared to what you were using before you started.
Why Not Just Go Big?
Now that you know how much energy your solar panel system is able to generate, it is a good idea to consider expanding your system. As already mentioned, the amount of energy your solar panel system generates will depend on various factors. If you want to maximize the amount of power that your panel generates, then you should go for the biggest model available. However, this should not be your only consideration. You also need to make sure that the additional wiring needed to run the bigger version is convenient and safe to install.
If you are experienced with home electronics, then you will be able to work on the wiring yourself. However, if you are not comfortable with this, then hire competent professionals to help you out.
Conclusion
When it comes to getting your home energy-efficient, there are numerous factors that you need to consider. The most basic and fundamental question to ask yourself is how much energy does one solar panel generate? Once you know this, you can start to figure out how much electricity you need and if any additional sources of energy will make up for what your solar panel is not able to generate. In many instances, simply replacing your panel will suffice because you will not generate enough electricity to make much of a difference. However, if you live in a cold climate and your current panel is not generating enough energy, then an additional source of energy such as a heat pump or an electric stove will prove to be invaluable.