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The nameplate wattage of solar panels is determined under ideal conditions that do not reflect real-world applications. For example, a 360 W panel may operate closer to 300 W when installed on a rooftop with average sunlight conditions. Below are some of the factors that affect the energy production of a solar panel.
Amount of Sunlight Exposure
Solar panels generate more electricity when they get more hours of direct sunlight. Assuming you compare PV systems of the same size, you can expect higher productivity in sunny states like California. You can use the World Bank Global Solar Atlas for an idea of the sun hours available in your location.
Ambient Temperature
Increased sunshine makes solar panel systems more productive, but high ambient (air) temperatures can have a detrimental effect. High heat can temporarily reduce the ability of PV cells to convert sunlight into electricity.
Solar panels have a temperature coefficient, which describes how much power their cells lose per Celsius degree as the panel heats up. Most solar panels have a temperature coefficient of around -0.3% to -0.5% per °C. This means a temperature rise of 10°C will cause a power loss of around 3% to 5%.
Solar Battery and Inverter Efficiency
A solar panel system includes other components, such as inverters and batteries. The inverter is necessary since it converts the DC power (direct current) generated by solar panels into the AC power (alternating current) used by home appliances. Battery storage is optional in grid-tied solar systems, but necessary for off-grid systems.
These devices waste some of the power your system generates since they are not 100% efficient, but you can find inverters and battery systems with an efficiency of over 95%. Although this represents a small loss, it is worth considering when designing a solar energy system.
Solar power is a great way to offset your energy bills. But just how much electricity do solar panels produce, and how many panels will you need to cover your electric bill?
We&#;ll take a look at what determines the power output of a solar panel, how much they produce, and how many you&#;ll need to cover your home, business, or farm&#;s energy bill.
Determining How Much Electricity Your Panels Produce
There are a few factors that will impact how much energy a solar panel produces. They include:
- The solar panel's power rating (efficiency + size)
- The type of the solar panel
- Environmental factors
Here&#;s how each plays a role in your solar production.
Solar Panels' Power Rating
A solar panel&#;s power rating is the measurement of the amount of electricity a solar panel will produce. Most solar panels on the market today have a power rating of around 300 to 500 watts.
What determines a solar panel&#;s power rating? It is impacted by how efficient and how large the solar panel is.
Solar panel efficiency is a measure of the percentage of the sun&#;s energy that the solar panel can convert into electricity. Today, many high-quality panels are around 20% efficient or more.
Higher efficiency panels mean you can produce more electricity with the same amount of panels, making them a great option for properties with limited space. However, they also come with a higher price tag.
Solar panels historically came in two sizes: 60-cell and 72-cell. With the current half-cut module technology in use by most manufacturers, this is typically 120-cell or 144-cell today. These represent the number of solar cells in each panel. The larger panels have a higher power rating, whereas the smaller panels produce less electricity.
To get a solar panel with the highest power rating, you&#;ll probably have to opt for a high-efficiency 144-cell panel. These panels can have power ratings of upwards of 500 watts. Smaller 120-cell options will likely come in at around 350 to 400 watts.
Environmental Factors
The last factor to consider when evaluating how much power a solar panel can produce is its environment.
The power rating of your solar panel is based on its performance under standard testing conditions. Standard testing conditions are when all variables that impact production are standardized across the industry, allowing for the equal comparison of different solar panels.
However, rarely will standard testing conditions reflect the actual environment your solar panel is exposed to. Everything from shading to your local weather patterns to the angle it&#;s installed can impact power production.
One of the most important factors for the power output of your solar panel system is the amount of sunlight it receives. More hours of direct sunlight means more production. But if clouds or shade get in the way, the amount of energy your panels produce will decrease.
There are also consistent seasonal differences. In the northern hemisphere, the days are longer in the summer and shorter in the winter. That means your production will peak near the summer solstice and will be at a low when the days are the shortest in the winter.
Other installation factors can also impact how much power a solar panel can produce. This includes the angle at which they&#;re tilted.
To optimize production, most panels do best when they&#;re oriented south and installed at an angle that roughly matches the degree latitude of that location. For example, if you live in the Mid-Atlantic area, that could range from 36 degrees for Southern Virginia to 45 degrees for Northern New York.
However, if your roof isn&#;t pitched to that exact degree or your south-facing roof can&#;t accommodate enough solar panels, you can still install a cost-effective system. These changes can be relatively modest and made up for by adding just a few extra solar panels.
How Much Power Can a Solar Panel Produce Per Day, Month, and Year?
A 144-cell solar panel on a sunny day in June will produce more than a 120-cell panel on a cloudy day in the winter. However, that&#;s not the most helpful answer.
Because we&#;re here to help, we will share some averages for various panels. Just note that these numbers are broad estimates and won&#;t reflect every situation.
Panel Power Rating
Average Daily Output
Average Monthly Output
Average Yearly Output
300 watts
1 kWh
30 kWh
360 kWh
325 watts
1.08 kWh
32.5 kWh
390 kWh
350 watts
1.15 kWh
35 kWh
420 kWh
375 watts
1.23 kWh
37.5 kWh
450 kWh
400 watts
1.31 kWh
40 kWh
480 kWh
450 watts
1.5 kWh
45 kWh
540 kWh
How Many Solar Panels Do You Need?
The above chart reflects how much electricity just one solar panel can produce. But if you&#;re looking to install a solar energy system, you&#;ll have more than one panel.
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The size of your solar system will vary depending on your electric bill, the area you have available to install it in, and your specific energy goals. However, here&#;s an estimate that shows how many solar panels you may need to offset your electricity bill based on the solar panel&#;s power output.
Solar Panel Power Output
5 kW System ($50/mo electric bill)
10 kW System ($120/mo electric bill)
20 kW System ($240/mo electric bill)
50 kW System ($600/mo electric bill)
100 kW System ($1,200/mo electric bill)
200 kW System ($2,400/mo electric bill)
300 watts
15
29
58
145
290
580
325 watts
14
27
54
134
268
536
350 watts
13
25
50
125
249
497
375 watts
12
24
47
115
232
464
400 watts
11
22
44
109
218
435
450 watts
11
22
44
111
222
444
As you can see, a system composed of panels with a lower power output can get quite large. And while they may be less expensive on a per-panel basis, you&#;ll have to buy significantly more. You&#;ll also have to have a place to install all those panels physically.
Your solar installer will find the right balance between panel amount and panel cost during your system&#;s design.
Using Solar to Offset Your Electricity Bill
It&#;s essential to know just how much electricity your solar system will produce. However, because there are so many variables to consider, this blog gives a broad overview of the type of production you can expect to see.
With a quote from an experienced solar installer, you&#;ll get a much more specific look. They&#;ll measure all the variables and consider for critical your energy and financial goals to design your optimal system. They should also provide a breakdown of the cost and cash flow so you can see exactly how beneficial a solar investment can be.
If you're located in the mid-Atlantic region of the US, have our team of solar experts design a system for you that best fits your needs. Click the 'Get A Quote' button above to get started.
Originally posted on October 10, . Updated May .
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