US households, on average, used 893 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity in 2020. That’s nearly 30 kWh of electricity per day!
So, it’s no wonder that thousands of dollars go toward paying utility bills each year. Moreover, US electricity prices may rise by 3.9% this June to August 2022.
That’s enough of a reason to invest in solar panels to lower your electricity bills.
But how much energy does a solar panel produce per day, though? Is it enough to offset your electricity consumption?
This solar panel guide answers those questions below, so read on.
How Do Solar Panels Produce Energy?
According to Blue Raven Solar, switching to solar can save you thousands of dollars. But how exactly can it do that?
It all starts with solar panels that contain cells designed to absorb the sun’s photons.
Photons carry light energy that responds to the solar cells and materials in the panels. That results in the production of alternating current (AC) electricity.
The generated energy then passes an inverter connected to the solar power system. The inverter then transforms the AC electricity into direct current (DC). DC electricity, in turn, is the type you use to power up your home, appliances, and electronics.
So, How Much Energy Does a Solar Panel Produce per Day?
The amount of energy a solar panel produces depends on its power rating, measured in watts. However, the number of peak sun hours it can get also influences its output.
Depending on the specific type, a panel’s power rating can range from 250 to 400 watts. A solar panel costs less if it’s on the lower end. However, it also generates less power.
On the other hand, the higher the rating, the more electricity a panel can produce. Thus, you can expect it to cost more.
A peak sun hour, in turn, refers to an hour wherein the sun’s intensity measures 1,000 W/m². During this time, a solar panel can generate the most power.
Once you know a solar panel’s power rating, you can multiply that by the number of peak hours you get in your area.
Suppose you live in Arizona, which, on average, gets 7 to 8 peak sun hours a day. Let’s also say you invest in solar panels with a power rating of 350 watts.
To determine how much energy a panel can produce, you only have to multiply 7 or 8 (hours) by 350 (watts). Using that formula, each one of your solar panels can generate about 2,450 to 2,800 watts or 2.45 to 2.8 kW per day.
So, if you have 15 panels, your entire system can generate 36.75 to 42 kW of electricity per day. That’s way more than the average daily electricity consumption in the US! In short, it’s more than enough to meet your daily energy needs.
Start Producing Energy at Home
We hope this guide has answered your question, “how much energy does a solar panel produce per day?” Now you know that it depends on the panel’s power rating and the peak sun hours in your area. The bottom line is that high-efficiency panels can generate more than you need every day.
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