How much energy do solar panels actually generate?

How do solar panels produce energy?

Before you can understand how much energy a solar panel can make, it helps to know how they make it. 

To make this as simple as possible: solar panels allow particles of light called photons to collide with electrons and knock them free of atoms. When this occurs, electricity is generated, harnessed, and stored as energy in photovoltaic cells. Many photovoltaic cells, or cells that are able to convert sunlight into electricity, make up one solar panel.  

How is that energy measured?

Solar panel potential energy outputs are measured in wattage, or the theoretical output one panel could produce under ideal weather, sunlight, and temperature conditions. You will probably hear solar installers referring to the wattage of certain panels when determining what’s best for your home or business’ solar needs. 

The energy production per panel type varies on their capacity. Energy Sage gives this example: a 250-watt panel that receives 4 hours of direct sunlight per day can produce around 1,000 watts (or 1 kilowatt) of electricity. You can reach this conclusion by the equation of Watts x Hours in the sun, so in this particular example, 250 x 4 gives you 1,000. If you’re producing 1 kW per day, that’s about enough to power small appliances, but won’t be able to power your entire home, so you’ll want to install more than one panel depending on the size and energy needs of your house.

Do certain solar panels produce more energy than others?

When looking to install solar panels on your home, you’ll obviously want a system that best fits your needs. Not all solar panels produce the same amount of energy, so assessing how much electricity you use and the cost it takes to power your home are important factors when weighing your options. 

Short answer: yes, some solar panels produce more energy than others. But that doesn’t mean the smaller systems aren’t effective enough to get the right job done!

For example, 250-watt panels don’t produce as many watts as 400-watt panels because they are physically smaller. However, you may have limited roof space that requires you to go for the more compact panel, or don’t use that much energy and don’t need your solar panels to produce as much. Larger commercial projects that have adequate roof space and significantly more energy needs would most likely opt for a 400-watt panel system. It all truly depends on what you’re looking to power — residential homes will require much less electricity than office buildings, warehouses, etc. 

Renu Energy Solutions specializes in many system types. We have experience installing 4 kW, 5 kW, 6 kW, 7 kW, 8 kW, 9 kW, 10 kW and 20 kW systems! 

Which Solar Provider is Right for You?

Due to the increasing demand for solar, the industry is booming, leaving a lot of customers wondering how to choose a solar company that fits their needs. With new solar providers popping up left and right, the field is now saturated with options for both residential and commercial projects.

Don’t get us wrong — options are a great thing! To have so many great providers in the area allows you to find a solar company that you feel really comfortable with instead of settling for what’s available. However, there are a few things to consider when choosing that you should look out for. Being aware of the horror stories ensures you won’t be the next one!

What to Avoid When You Choose a Solar Company

Before we tell you about the things you should want in a solar company, we want to share some things that you don’t want. These are some very real things happening in the solar industry right now, so we want you to be informed enough to save yourself the trouble.

1. Misleading information about savings potential

We get it: being promised big savings is one of the most attractive things about going solar. However, it’s important to look out for providers that are potentially exaggerating your savings potential or low-balling the actual cost of a solar installation.

The wrong solar company will probably exaggerate your potential savings; they’ll throw out a big number in hopes of grabbing your attention. Everyone likes to save money, there’s no shame in that — but air on the side of caution and don’t expect an exact dollar amount straight away. It is extremely difficult to pinpoint an accurate rate of savings, as every house has different solar systems and different energy needs.

2. Bundling to disguise extra costs

Some companies will bundle your solar panels with other features such as a smart thermostat, LED lighting, or air sealing and claim that they’re included with the price. In reality, they’re not including these as a bonus, they’re just charging you more and making you think you’re getting a deal! If you compare prices with a solar company who isn’t necessarily offering all the extra bells and whistles, they are more than likely going to be significantly cheaper because they’re not sneaking in those hidden costs. Many companies will also try to include those upgrades and fancy features into the 26% Federal Tax Cut, for which they are not eligible. It’s another shady tactic to make you think you’re saving more money than you are. If a deal feels entirely too good to be true, it probably is.

3. Sketchy sales tactics that take advantage of customers

There are several common sales tactics to look out for when shopping for a solar provider, the first of which is to pressure you into purchasing within a specific timeframe. This could look something like signing a contract before the end of the week to get a discount on your panels and installation, which is a trick to prevent you from taking the time to research all of your options, or their competitors.

Another common trick is to purposefully mark up their panels and create a sort of sale, making the customer believe they’re getting a deal. In reality, they’re offering you the appropriate market price, the original price had just been extremely inflated to make you think you’ve stumbled across this great sale. If you aren’t pressured time-wise, you’ll be able to do your research and compare costs with other solar providers in the area, which is exactly what they don’t want you to do.

Now That I Know What I Don’t Want in a Solar Company, How Do I Know What I Do Want?

Now that we’ve alerted you about some of the red flags you should avoid, here are some things that you will want to look for before you choose a solar company:

1. Expertise in the industry

With solar’s increased popularity, many solar providers have sprung up in the last few years in an attempt to get a piece of the pie. With so many options, make sure you’re choosing one that has proven experience and a level of expertise that some of their competitors might not possess. The solar industry gold standard is to be National American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certified, which indicates that they provide quality assurance for each and every installation. (Psst! Renu is NABCEP certified!)

2. A positive reputation

If you don’t believe what the solar company is telling you, believe what their customers are saying! You’ll get some great insight from people that have worked with them before and learn more about their experiences going solar. If a certain provider has mostly negative reviews from their customers, it’s probably in your best interest to stay away. If you’d like to hear from some of Renu’s clients, check out our reviews.

3. Proven track record

When choosing a solar company that’s right for you, you may want to compare some of their previous projects that are similar to yours so that you have an idea of what it’s going to be like. If they have a proven track record, you’ll have more peace of mind because you’ll know that they’ve done this kind of installation many times and know what to expect. For example, Renu has done over 3,500 installations on both residential and commercial projects, so we’ve seen it all!

4. Service & support

You don’t want a company that ditches you as soon as the panels are installed — you want one that’s going to offer system support and troubleshooting if necessary. If a problem arises with your system, you want a solar provider that you can rely on to fix it instead of leaving you to fend for yourself.

Why Choose Renu Over the Competition?

Before you choose a solar company, keep in mind everything we discussed! We are happy to acknowledge the growth the solar industry has seen in the last few years and are proud to have been a part of it. While we realize there are many solar companies to work with, we believe we are the right choice for you.

Recently, Renu was honored by Inc. Media by being included on their Inc. 5000 List, a prestigious list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. In our 10th year of operating, we’re already being recognized nationally for our hard work and dedication in the solar industry.

In addition to being esteemed by the Inc. 5000, we also just made Solar Power World’s Top 500 Solar Contractors List! We are so grateful to be recognized by fellow solar companies and hope to continue climbing our way up the list.
While awards and recognitions aren’t our reason for doing what we do, we are proud to be thought of as a reliable, growing business that is committed to providing the highest quality service to each and every customer. If you’d like to learn more about us before choosing a solar company for your home or business’ installation, book a free solar consultation with us today. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have and guide you through your solar journey from the beginning to the end.