Solar energy continues to grow in popularity among homeowners in the United States.
There were more than 130,000 residential solar panel systems installed in Q3 of 2023.
Solar energy is clean, infinite, and renewable. As such, it is a far more environmentally-friendly energy source than fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, and oil. Solar panels can also help homeowners to save thousands of dollars on their home’s energy bills.
The Smart Meter Texas website helps you review your home’s monthly energy usage and know how much you are spending with its heating and cooling system; all you have to do is log in to the website and enter your address.
If you are planning to install solar panels on your property, an important question to consider is ‘How many solar panels do I need’. We will answer this question in this blog post and look at the factors that determine the exact number.
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?
It can be difficult to give an exact number to this question. This is because every household is different in its size, location, and specific energy needs. Taking the US as a whole, the average home requires between 19 and 23 solar panels based on average electricity usage.
The cost of installation this number of solar panels, after taking into consideration the 26 percent federal solar tax credit, is between $13,000 and $16,200.
What Factors Determine How Many Solar Panels I Need?
The first factor that needs consideration is your home’s typical energy usage. It stands to reason that the more electricity you and your family use, the more solar panels will be required to cover the electricity costs.
The amount of sunlight in your area is another factor. If you live in an area with less sunlight than other parts of the US, you will require a greater number of solar panels to eliminate your electricity bills. States in the southwest of the US typically get the greatest amount of sunlight, while the northeast gets the least.
The panel wattage, also known as power rating, on your solar panel system is another consideration. This determines the amount of energy that your solar panels produce—most systems today have a power rating of approximately 320 watts. The higher your system’s wattage rating, the fewer panels that you will need.
Finally, the location of the solar panel system on your property plays an important role in its effectiveness and efficiency. Most homeowners install their solar panels on their roofs and it is advised that you install them in a south-facing direction.
There can be a significant reduction in solar panel output if systems are installed in north, east, west, southwest, or southeast directions. For example, north-facing panels can be around 30 percent less efficient than ‘true’ south-facing panels. This means you would need more solar panels if your system is not facing true south.
Check out Blue Raven solar installation, a leading solar panel installer, to learn more about this topic.
Discover Solar Panel Benefits for Yourself
As we have highlighted, most homeowners in the US will require between 19 and 23 solar panels. The above-listed factors will help to determine the exact number that you require.
Like this blog post on how many solar panels do I need? Be sure to check out our other informative articles on a wide range of interesting topics.
