If you’re considering converting to solar energy, one of the first questions you’ll have is “How much energy do solar panels produce?” Making the decision to go solar is a big step for most, so you should know exactly what you’re getting out of it. Energy production is an important factor when weighing which type of solar system will work best for your individual needs. 

 

Because renewable energy sources are growing increasingly popular and will soon be consistently cheaper than fossil fuels, many home and business owners are making the switch to solar-powered systems to both save on energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint. 

 

 

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! 

 

 

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

 

If you’re considering converting to solar energy, one of the first questions you’ll have is “How much energy do solar panels produce?” Making the decision to go solar is a big step for most, so you should know exactly what you’re getting out of it. Energy production is an important factor when weighing which type of solar system will work best for your individual needs. 

 

Because renewable energy sources are growing increasingly popular and will soon be consistently cheaper than fossil fuels, many home and business owners are making the switch to solar-powered systems to both save on energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint. 

 

 

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! 

 

 

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]