How Many Solar Panels Do You Need?
Installing residential solar panels allows you to generate your own power so you can reduce your reliance on the electric grid and save money on your bills.
But just how many solar panels will you need to power your home? The answer depends on a number of factors that can vary significantly from one homeowner to the next.
The easiest way to find out how many solar panels you need is to schedule a solar assessment with a local solar panel installer in Arizona. SouthFace Solar & Electric offers free solar assessments and can provide an estimate for your solar installation in Arizona
However, there are a few factors you can consider to get an idea of how many solar panels you’ll need for your home solar installation.
Factors that Determine How Many Solar Panels You Need
There are three main factors that impact the number of solar panels you need to run a house.
Total Annual Electricity Usage
The first step in calculating how many solar panels you need is to find out how much power you use in a year. You can find this information by reviewing the past 12 months of your electric bills. Every monthly statement should include your total consumption, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Add up your consumption totals from the past 12 months to calculate your annual electricity usage.
Larger homes that use more power will naturally need more solar panels than smaller homes that consume less electricity. If you’re planning to go off-grid with solar, you will also likely need more panels since your solar system will have to cover 100% of your electricity needs.
Solar Panel Wattage
Solar panels are rated based on their wattage, which describes the amount of electricity they can produce in ideal conditions. Wattage varies from one panel to the next, but most are rated to produce between 250 and 400 watts of electricity. The higher the wattage, the more power the panel can produce and the fewer you’ll need.
Sunlight Access
Solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity and the amount of power they can produce is impacted directly by the amount of sunlight they receive. Arizona is one of the best states for solar energy because we get so much sun. Factors like the direction your roof faces and surrounding obstacles like trees can reduce the amount of sunlight your solar panels receive and, therefore, the amount of power they produce.
Average Number of Solar Panels Needed to Power a House
According to the US Energy Information Administration, the average American household uses 10,632 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year. To cover this amount of electricity usage, you’ll need about 15-20 solar panels.
It’s unlikely that your electricity usage matches the national average exactly, however. Since there are so many variables involved, it’s best to have a professional solar company size your solar panel system.
Get a Free Estimate for Your Arizona Solar Panel Installation
SouthFace Solar & Electric is the leading residential solar installation company in Arizona. We install custom home solar panel systems that are tailored to your needs and can design a system that will maximize your solar production while taking full advantage of the available roof or ground space. We offer free solar assessments during which one of our solar experts will consider all the factors at play to determine exactly how many solar panels you need to meet your power needs.
We’ve been in business since 2008 and have helped hundreds of Arizonans change their lives and futures for the better with solar panels and battery storage solutions. We serve the entire state, including Phoenix, Carefree, Scottsdale, and Prescott.
