When designing a custom solar system for your home, one of the first questions that comes up is “how many solar panels are needed to power a house?”
Of course, there is no straightforward answer. The average American home requires approximately 20 solar panels to meet the requirement of energy consumption. However, that number depends on a variety of factors such as house size, energy consumption, solar panel efficiency, available sunlight, and more.
The Size of the House
The size of your house is probably the most important consideration when determining how many solar panels power your home will need.
It goes without saying that larger homes tend to use more energy. That means larger homes will require more solar panels to supply the necessary amount of energy. However, Arizona has some of the smallest average home sizes in the country, with the average single family home being around 1,700 to 1,900 sq ft.
The Solar Panel Efficiency
The efficiency of most solar panels ranges between 15 and 20% in Arizona. Those with a higher efficiency absorb more sunlight and produce more usable energy. Homes with high-efficiency solar panels can often achieve the same results with fewer panels.
The Amount of Energy Consumed
Every household consumes a different amount of energy. The average 2500-square-foot home in Arizona may use about 13000 kWh yearly. Therefore, it would need a solar system rated 7.31 to cater to all power needs. The homeowner may need about 19 panels, assuming they use 400W solar panels. The annual energy production for a solar system size of 4kW is about 7000 kWh, while a solar system rated 10 kW is about 17520kWh.
By inventing a solar calculator, technology has made it easy to identify the number of panels you require in your home. It calculates the average monthly bill and then determines the energy consumed.
The Location and Amount of Sunlight Available
According to A-Z animals, Arizona ranks as the state with the most sunlight. Homeowners in Phoenix, Arizona, have about 300 sunny days yearly. For such areas, one needs fewer panels since they can collect adequate sunlight and ensure electricity production.
If your home is located in an area that gets consistent amounts of sunlight, you may be able to get by with fewer solar panels.
Let Solar Optimum Help You Today
Having adequate information about how many solar panels you need to power a house in Arizona is crucial as it may help save on cost and time.
At Solar Optimum, we provide our customers with custom-designed solar systems specifically for your needs and requirements. If you’re interested in designing a solar system for your home, contact us today and speak with one of our Energy Consultants to get the process started.
