How Many Solar Panels Do I Need For My Home?

To understand how many solar panels you will need for your home, you first have to determine your energy, financial, and personal goals. 

Do you want to maximize your return on investment? Are you looking forward to reducing your carbon footprint? Do you want to fulfil your energy needs? 

Most of the time, people install solar panels because they want to save money and obtain emission-free energy while doing their bit for the environment.

Calculating the numbers of solar panels you will need on various critical factors – from energy usage, climate and peak time for sunlight, the capacity of your PV panel, to energy generation per kW of solar PV panels.

When asked “how much solar power do I need?” We recommend our clients get in touch with one of our solar professionals. They will evaluate your solar needs and offer you top tier solar solutions. Here are a few things we consider:

What Is Your Energy Usage?

To correctly size your solar PV system you first need to understand how much energy your home uses. One of the easiest ways to determine is by looking at your previous month’s energy bills. 

The past electricity bills will tell you how much energy you have consumed in the previous month or quarter. It will assist you with determining your average daily energy usage. 

Understanding the daily energy usage will be easier if you have a smart meter installed at your home. With smart meters, you can check your daily energy usage either on your utility bill or online account. 

Your home’s energy consumption will be measured and billed in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The kilowatt-hours per day will again depend on household energy usage.

For instance, an average Australian residential property uses 15–20kWh per day. Likewise, a household of five people with a swimming pool may use 33kWh per day.

How Much Power Do You Typically Use Every Day?

Apart from considering your energy usage, you should also examine the amount of electricity used every day. Australian homes are usually empty during weekdays, with kids and parents attending work or school, which means the main power consumption happens in the evening. 

In such cases, you cannot use your solar panel effectively. One of the best ways to make the most out of your solar panels is by using the generated power during the day and then exporting it to the grid.

Additionally, you should also consider your power usage during different months. For instance, you may use air conditioners during summer or heaters during winter. 

Nonetheless, you must understand your daily and peak days energy usage as well as the time of the day you use the most power.

What Power Capacity Will Your Solar PV System Need To Cover?

Once you figure out how much power you use daily and at what time of day, the next thing you would want to know is the capacity of your solar PV system that will cover your energy usage. 

A grid-connected system is one of the most common types of solar installations. In a grid-connected system, solar panels will generate electricity during the day, and a grid connection will supply electricity when the solar panels aren’t generating enough power. 

This type of solar system helps you understand your daily energy usage and the right size of solar PV panel for your home.

How Much Electricity Can You Expect per kW of Solar PV Panels?

When searching “How many solar panels do I need for my home?” one of the first things that pop up is the system’s watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). Solar systems are generally rated in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). You will notice solar systems typically described as 4kW, 5kW, 10kW and so on. 

Every solar PV system KW will have a kilowatt-hour (kWh), which helps determine how much energy you are using multiplied by the total time the power is being used. 

For each kW of solar PV panels, you can expect about four kWh electricity generation every day. For instance, a typical 5kW solar panel will roughly produce 20kWh of electricity every day. 

The power generated per kW of solar panels will also depend on your location, place of installation, adequate sunlight, and time of the year.

Will You Shift Your Power Usage Between Day and Night?

If you are planning to save on energy bills by installing a solar system, use them during the day when the PV panels are generating efficient power. Likewise, minimise your energy consumption at night. 

Pro Tip: Use dishwasher, washing machine, air conditioners, and heaters during the daytime with timer functions. This will help reduce the amount of energy you need to run them during the evening.

How many solar panels Do I need? Choose The Right Solar PV Panel

Ultimately, it all comes down to choosing the right solar panels. As one of the reputed solar companies that deal with commercial and residential solar, we offer top tier solar solutions that are cost-effective and highly energy efficient. When searching “how many solar panels do I need in Australia” trust our solar professionals who will solve all your solar queries.