Tag Archives: solar system sizes

how many solar panels

How many solar panels do I need for my home?

We estimate that a typical home needs between 17 and 21 solar panels to cover 100 percent of its electricity usage. To determine how many solar panels you need, you’ll need to know: your annual electricity consumption, the wattage of the solar panels you’re considering, and the estimated production ratio of your solar system. You can calculate the number of solar panels you’ll need by dividing the system size by the production ratio, and again by the panel wattage. 

The actual number of panels you’ll need to install depends on factors including your geographic location, panel efficiency, panel rated power, and your personal energy consumption habits. Importantly, the number of solar panels you need for your home directly impacts the price you pay for solar. While the answer isn’t always simple, we’ve put together some example cases to help you understand, at a high level, how many solar panels you need to install an effective home solar array.

Continue reading
solar panel size and weight

Solar panel size and weight explained: how big are solar panels?

Solar panel systems are an increasingly common sight on rooftops all across the U.S., but unless you climb up onto a roof, it can be difficult to figure out how big solar panels are and how much they weigh. In this article, we’ll help you understand solar panel size, solar panel weight, and whether your roof can support a solar panel system that produces enough wattage to meet the daily energy needs of your household. 

Continue reading
size solar energy system for electric vehicle

Solar Panels and Electric Cars: Can I Use Solar as an EV charger?

Solar panels and electric cars are a match made in heaven ­– when you install a solar energy system on your home, you can use it to both power your home and charge your electric car for emissions-free transportation. The cost of solar is falling rapidly, and companies from Tesla to Nissan are manufacturing electric cars for your daily use. Now, the ability to install a solar PV system large enough to power both your home and your car is an option within reach. But even with incentives and rebates available for both technologies, most homeowners still can’t afford to install solar and buy an electric car at the same time. Luckily, it’s easy to install a solar energy system today that takes your future electricity consumption into account, if you take a few additional factors into consideration.

Continue reading