Solar energy works by capturing the sun s energy and turning it into electricity for your home or business.
Do i get enough sun for solar panels.
Solar energy production is based on the panel size multiplied by the number of sun hours your roof receives.
Solar panel efficiency typically ranges from 15 to 20 percent but high end solar panels like sunpower can offer efficiency levels as high as almost 23 percent and above.
Our sun is a natural nuclear reactor.
Solar radiation peaks at solar noon when the sun reaches the highest point in the sky.
You will want to check the power output when the sun is directly over the panels.
The number of peak sun hours you get per day increases the closer you are to the equator and typically during the summer months.
This will be at solar noon for north facing panels.
Or at least as directly over them as it will get on that day.
However it s best to do your research and make sure solar panels are the right decision for your home.
East and west facing roofs are also a good option because they get a lot of sun.
Besides alaska and even parts of southern alaska get more sun than parts of northern germany but high electricity prices and strong government support for solar energy has led germany to be the global leader in solar installations by an overwhelming margin.
How are you financing your solar panel system.
With solar panels your rooftop can generate your own power give you energy freedom.
But having electricity during an outage gives you peace of mind and a value beyond money.
There s even less sunlight in germany than in any state in the u s.
It releases tiny packets of energy called photons which travel the 93 million miles from the sun to earth in about 8 5 minutes.
In a state with strong peak sunlight a panel with lower efficiency will likely do the trick.
Although your panels may get an average of 7 hours of daylight a day the average peak sun hours are generally around 4 or 5.
If your only available roof area for solar panels are north facing or you don t have much unobstructed room for.
If you have enough to make a purchase in cash you ll save more than with any other option but even with a 0 down solar loan your savings could still be in the tens of thousands.
120v circuit breakers for approximately 8 to 12 hours enough to keep essentials humming until the sun rises.
In most parts of the us there are enough peak sun hours to make getting solar panels a worthwhile investment.
Solar can t change the weather.
This nrel solar resource page provides an insolation map for the entire country.
Solar panels are rated in watts just like your light bulbs except in the case of solar panels they produce rather than consume electricity.
Solar panel dimensions are on average about 3 by 5.
It is best to check when this is at your location as it usually won t be at 12 o clock on the dot.