Solar or electromagnetic radiation is light from the sun, and the amount which strikes the earth in an hour and a half could easily handle the world’s needs for a whole year. Solar technologies can transform sunlight into electrical energy through photovoltaic (PV) panels. The harnessed energy by this method can be used to generate electricity or can be stored in batteries or thermal storage.Solar technologies capture this radiation and turn it into proper forms of energy.

Installation of solar panels in homes can aid in nullifying the effects of harmful emissions of greenhouse gases and help reduce global warming. These panels do not cause any pollution and, in effect, provide clean energy, cutting our reliance on fossil fuels.

On another note, changing our homes to green technology is mainly expensive. This is their only major drawback. Also, the best Solar Installation Companies suggest that solar panels are supposed to be installed outside homes to get charged during sunlight hours. Today, solar panels are gaining popularity, thanks partly to peoples’ environmental responsibility and their absolute desire to reduce their energy bills, converting to clean fuel technologies for all of their heating, cooling, and electricity needs. Switching to solar, one would probably find out how many solar panels it would take to power a house.

Determining the number of solar panels needed

To determine how many solar panels may be needed to power a house, contact a Solar installation company now, and they will guide you with a formula comprising three key aspects that would be necessary; annual energy usage, panel wattage, and production ratios.

Annual energy usage

Going for an on-grid solar system, It is necessary to determine the yearly (annual) electricity usage; this is the amount of electricity consumed by an entire household in one year. It is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), includes all electrical sources used in a home, and includes small/large appliances, air conditioning units, lights, fans, air purifiers, washing equipment, and heaters. It has been estimated that an average household could consume almost 11,000 kWh of electricity per year.

Solar Panel Wattage

Solar panels look alike but are not equally created. Knowing the wattage of each panel that one is hoping to install at home is necessary. Panel wattage is the amount of electricity that is emitted from the panel. These panels range between 250 to 400 watts of power, so it’s safe to assume 300 as the average panel wattage. This also differs if you are installing on grid solar system or hybrid solar system.

Production Ratios

A solar panel system’s production ratio is the estimated energy output over time (in kWh) to the actual system size (in W). One could think that this would be a 1:1 ratio – you get out whatever goes in. Depending on whether an on grid solar system or a hybrid solar system, a 10kW system that produces 16 kWh of electricity in a year will have a production ratio of 1.6 (16/10 = 1.6). Hawaii, where sunlight is plentiful, enjoys long days and consistent sunshine, it’s possible to this type of ratio, whereas cloudy and rainy New England might see an average production ratio of only 1.2

Some critical factors are essential in determining the number of solar panels needed to power a home. System Efficiency

A solar panel would not always harness the sun’s energy at full capacity. It can be hindered by bouts of rain, and snowfalls in winter, leaving snow blankets on roofs wherever panels may be installed. One would have to replace these with a buffer in energy use, so it would be recommended to install about 25% more solar panels than necessary. Always get the best quote from reputed solar installation companies for the best services. Hours of Sunlight

Energy from solar panels is directly related to how many hours of sun the home gets. More panels would be required in an area with short hours of sunshine.

The wattage of Your Panels

Bigger wattage solar panels to generate enough energy for the home is suggested if transferring 100% of energy usage with solar panels. In case of a partial conversion, the difference in solar panel wattage may not matter.

Cost

It is imperative to plan how much to spend on your solar panels. Before buying, it would be sensible to buy panels according to your budget. Converting to solar panels is quite expensive.

Conclusion

Most of the Earth's surface obtains sufficient levels of solar energy, allowing low-grade heating of water and of buildings; however, there are huge variations concerning latitude and season. Simple mirror devices can concentrate solar energy at low latitudes for cooking and driving steam turbines.

The energy of light shifts electrons in many semiconducting materials. This photovoltaic effect is capable of large-scale electricity generation. In essence, the low efficiency of solar PV cells demands large areas to supply electricity. Direct use of solar energy is the only renewable means capable of ultimately replacing current global energy supply demands from non-renewable sources, but only at the expense of a land area at least half a million km2.