The solar panel calculator is a tool that helps users estimate the requirements for a solar panel system based on various input parameters. It takes into account factors such as the daily energy needs of a household or business, the efficiency of the solar panels, the average peak sun hours per day in the location where the panels will be installed, and the wattage rating of the individual solar panels.
To calculate how many solar panels a household needs to meet its electricity demand, you first need to know the household's average daily electricity consumption, the local average sunshine hours, and the solar panel's conversion efficiency. Then, you can estimate using the following formula:
Total Solar Panel Power (W) = Average Daily Electricity Consumption (kWh) × 1000 / Average Sunshine Hours (h) / Solar Panel Conversion Efficiency
Total Solar Panel Area (m²) = Total Solar Panel Power (W) / Power per Solar Panel (W) / Area per Solar Panel (m²)
Here's a step-by-step explanation of how to use this formula:
Keep in mind that this is a rough estimate and factors like shading, tilt angle, and panel orientation can also affect the performance of your solar panel system.
When a specific type of material (such as silicon) is illuminated by light, photons (particles of light) interact with the atoms or molecules on the material's surface, causing electrons to be energized and dissociated from the solid, forming free electrons and positive ions. These free electrons can move freely, generating an electric current.
Solar panels typically consist of multiple solar cells, each made from semiconductor materials (such as silicon). When sunlight shines on these panels, the energy in the light is absorbed by the semiconductor material, causing electrons to be released from their atomic structures, forming "excited electrons." These electrons move freely within the semiconductor material, creating an electric current.
During the process of converting solar light into electricity, some energy is lost. The primary sources of energy loss include reflection, transmission, and thermal losses. To minimize energy losses, solar panels often incorporate design measures such as reflective layers, anti-reflective coatings, and multi-layer structures to improve light absorption rates.
The core component of a solar panel, made from semiconductor materials, responsible for converting sunlight into electrical energy.
Regulates and manages the output voltage and current of the panel, ensuring stable system operation.
Converts direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC), allowing connection to household and commercial electrical systems.
The energy conversion efficiency of monocrystalline silicon solar panels is usually between 20% and 24%, while the energy conversion efficiency of polycrystalline silicon solar panels is usually between 15% and 20%
About 0.396 kWh per square foot
Depends on the location and the efficiency of the panel. A 20% efficient panel in Los Angeles (zip code 79821) , Azimuth is 40, Tilt is 12,the kwh is about 394KWH.