One of the most frequently asked questions by homeowners about solar power is,
“can solar really power my entire home?”
Solar power is truly a no-brainer, for anyone who can get their arithmetic right. Whether for economic reasons, ecological reasons, or both, getting 100% of your electricity from your own renewable energy source can be powerful. It can make an enormous impact on the environment by preventing a lot of carbon emissions out in the atmosphere. It can also help you save more money in the long run by providing you with free electricity for decades.
With the sun delivering enormous amount of energy to the earth on an hourly basis, meeting 100% of a home’s power needs with solar energy is possible. And if that is what you are aiming at, there are a few factors that need consideration before you decide to power your home with solar alone.
Let’s take a look at, how some of these can impact your solar system. This will give you a better idea of how you could power your home entirely with solar energy.
Factors Impacting Your Ability to reach 100% Coverage with Solar Energy
1. How Much Energy You Use
To meet 100% of your home’s energy needs, your solar installer will first have to determine how much energy your home typically uses. The most common way is to take a look at your past electricity usage, which is included in your electricity bills.
However, it’ll go beyond reading the most recent bill. There are quite a few variables that a solar installer will have to take into account. Also, the amount of electricity you use will likely vary from month to month and season to season.
Colder weather may lead to lower electricity bills compared to summers when the air conditioning is blasting. Longer days or more time spent indoors could also lead to an increased electricity usage during winters. Your solar installer needs to average out how much electricity you typically use to fully understand how big a system you will need. However, it’s important to remember that the numbers vary depending on your home’s size and the amount of energy consumption.
2. How Many Hours of Sunlight Does Your Home Receive?
After determining your household’s monthly energy consumption, you’ll also want to figure out how many hours of peak sunlight your home can expect to receive. And although these numbers may vary on a daily basis, (even in a particular location) there are a few established facts to consider. Regardless of your location, the amount of electricity your system generates in the summer is going to be much greater than in the winter.
The amount of electricity a solar system in Chandigarh or Delhi produces over a year is going to be different than a solar system in Mumbai or Bangalore.
Another variable is the weather and climate in your local area. Although solar has proven itself profitable even in extremely cloudy or rainy areas. Installers will look at average weather patterns in your area to get an accurate estimate of how much electricity you can realistically generate throughout the year.
3. Your Available Space
Solar panels need unobstructed view of the sun during the entire day to be at their best. So a bright, sunny spot that won’t interfere with your day to day activities would be ideal. For many properties, the place that makes the most sense is the roof; however, solar panels can be installed on land as ground-mounted solar system if that’s more suitable for your situation.
A solar system for a typical home size usually ranges between 3 kW and 5 kW. That means you’ll need between 250 sq. ft. and 500 sq. ft. of shadow-free space with limited obstructions to install a system that will fulfill all your electric needs.
4. What Type And How Many Solar Panels Does Your Home Need?
Every home is different, and each home will require a unique amount of solar panels in order to effectively convert the sun’s energy into the energy that can adequately power your home. The number of panels needed for your home will depend basically on your energy consumption and the available roof space. But there are other factors that need careful consideration before your system is practically finalized and ready for installation.
Using Solar to Meet 100% of Your Home Energy Needs
For many homeowners, 100% coverage using solar energy is a reasonable goal. As long as your property is suitable for the size solar system you need, you should be able to completely offset your energy usage with solar. With many specific variables to consider (such as roof condition and angle, nearby shading, daily sun exposure, home size, etc.), you’ll want to ensure that professionals determine the most accurate data.
Feel you are ready to own your solar energy system and experience it's many benefits? Just book your free solar consultation with our experts and prepare for your next step in solar.
