Sizing your solar grid-tie system is not as complicated as you may think. With only an electrical bill, you can determine the minimum system size you will need. Once you’ve determined that, you can determine how many solar panels you will need, and find compatible components from there.
To begin, you will need your 12 month average electrical use–which you should be able to find on your utility bill. This number will be in kWH (kilowatt-hours).
Then follow these steps to get a ballpark estimate of your minimum system size:
- Record average monthly kWH electrical use: __________kWH
- Multiply this by the percentage you want the solar system to produce: __________kW (ie: 1000kWH X 50% = 500kWH)
- Divide by 30 for the daily output from your solar power system: __________kW
- Divide by the daily average sun hours for your location: __________kW (use 5 hours in VA)
- Divide by 75% to compensate for system efficiency: __________kW
The simplest way though, is to let us help you. We can save you time and ensure you have accurate information to base your PV array sizing, as with any questions you may have about using renewable energy. Feel free to give us a call at 540-860-8036 or contact us on our request a quote form.
Once you know how large of solar array is required to meet your power demands, we can help you select the appropriate products for your specific needs.
