How Many Solar Panels Do You Really Need? (Easy DIY Method)

Link to PVWatts: https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/

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How to Calculate Your Recommended Solar System Size

1: Pull your utility bill(s) and calculate your annual kWh consumption. This number typically falls between 10,000 and 25,000+ kWh per year.

2: Go to PVWatts and follow the steps starting at 3:31 to determine your solar yield (kWh per 1 kW).

3: Divide your annual consumption (Step 1) by your solar yield (Step 2). The result is your recommended system size in kW.
Example: 15,000 kWh divided by 1,682 equals 8.9 kW
*You will want to input your own kWh usage & solar yield per kW from PVWatts in this equation*

4: Divide your system size by your panel wattage in kW. If you’re unsure of your panel wattage, use 0.4 (400 watts) as a standard wattage estimate. Round up to the nearest panel to get your recommended number of panels to offset 100% of your annual consumption.
Example: 8.9 kW divided by 0.4 = 22.25 panels (let’s go with 23)

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👋My name’s Zach, and I’ve been in the solar industry since 2015. I enjoy talking about solar, battery storage, electric vehicles, Tesla products, and more! My goal with this channel is to provide transparent information, share my experiences, and empower both consumers and solar professionals.

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Timestamps:
0:00 Variables to consider
1:36 Calculate your annual energy consumption (kWh)
3:31 Calculate Solar Yield
7:22 System sizing formula
7:56 Calculating number of panels
8:51 Disclaimer!