multiple solar panels on a few houses in a neighborhood

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November 28, 2018

If you’re reading this, you’ve likely already dipped your toes into researching if going solar is a wise investment. You may have also noticed that not every residential solar electric system is the same size! So with all this Arizona sunshine we see year round, everyday, how many solar panels will you need to power your home with renewable energy?

Energy Solutions Providers has been in the solar game for a while—more specifically the Arizona solar game. And that local experience and expertise is crucial for you to get the most out of your custom designed solar electric system. So what all goes into sizing a new solar array?

How Much Power Do You Use At Home?

In order to understand how many panels you will need, we have to start with how much electricity your home is using. The average Arizona home uses 12,732 kWh a year, for an average monthly bill of around $120. If you were looking to offset your electricity costs by 100%, that means you will need a sized to produce 13,000 kWh per year. The amount of solar panels required to reach that number depends on the efficiency of the panels you choose.

How Solar Panel Output Works

Keeping with the above example, and the goal of offsetting 100% of the cost of 13,000 kWh per year, let’s look at how much power a single solar panel can generate.

Solar panels are rated in watts per hour. So if a solar panel is rated at 300 watts, and you are receiving 5 hours of peak sunshine per day, 5 x 300 = 1,500 watts (or 1.5 kw) per day.  Over the course of a year, that one panel will produce 548 kWh. So, if we divide the total energy needs for the year (13,000 kWh) by the output of a single solar panel (548 kWh):

13,000 / 548 = 23.7 solar panels.

This is of course if you are looking to completely offset your energy costs, which will involve incorporating a battery storage system in order to save unused daytime energy, or participating in any available net metering offered by your power utility company.

Will All Those Solar Panels Fit On Your Roof?

The next step in this process is determining if there is enough available sun-facing square footage on your roof to accommodate for the amount of panels you require. South facing roofs are ideal for solar panels, but if you don’t quite have the space on your roof, you can also ground mount solar panels to maximize your energy savings!

Solar Design by Energy Solution Providers

From start to finish, Energy Solution Providers will work closely with you to properly accomplish your Arizona home energy goals. Whether you are looking to say goodbye to your energy bills for good, or you want to reduce the carbon footprint of your home and conserve energy, or offset the electricity you use to charge your electric vehicle, Energy Solution Providers has the custom solar design you need.

Looking for the right solar solution for your home? It’s only a phone call away with the experts at Energy Solution Providers. Call 520-868-0700 for a free quote, or you can contact us!