California’s recently approved solar roof mandate for all new homes came as a surprise to many people. Solar on most new houses! This might seem like a good thing. Solar is great; solar panels are cool; California is leading the climate resistance and for solar panel installers in Fresno.

With plenty of benefits of solar power into consideration; the thing that often makes people worry is; how much rooftop area is required to install solar panels? If you have a similar question, continue to read to get your answers.

>>>Also Read: – 7 Important Benefits of Solar Power You Need to Know.<<<

How many solar panels are required for a rooftop solar installation?

Solar panel systems is design to install with a large enough capacity; to cover a building’s annual electricity consumption. Naturally, this is difficult to calculate precisely when you are constructing a brand new property that has never been lived in before. As a result, most builders estimate a building’s average electricity consumption based on the floor plan’s square footage.

As a general rule, most builders estimate 2 watts of solar power per square foot. This means that 4,000 watts (or 4 kilowatts) of solar capacity must be installed for a 2000 square foot home (2,000 * 2 = 4,000). Of course, when looking at larger residences and multi-family units, there are many more factors to consider. The number of bedrooms, the number of tenants, and the shape of the building must all be considered. 

Finally, the exact number of solar panels is determine. The amount of solar require is determine by an Energy Design Ratio (EDR). For all new construction, the schematic design of a home is tested with the use of state-approved software.

What Factors Affect the Roof Area Required?

The amount of rooftop space required for solar PV power plants has piqued the interest of people all over the world. Large, ground-mounted power plants are typically located in rural areas far from cities and thus are economically viable. As a result, the area required per MW is interesting but not critical.

However, for both residential and commercial rooftop solar power plants, space is a significant constraint in most cases.

The extent of roof area required by a solar PV plant is dependent on two factors

• Shade-free roof area
• Panel efficiency

  Shade-free roof area

To determine the extent of shade-free area available for installing a rooftop solar PV plant, unutilized rooftop areas will have to be assessed for incidence of shadows throughout the year. We emphasize shade-free roof area because shadows have two effects on the performance when you Install Solar Panels:

• Output – When a shadow fall on a PV panel, the plant’s output is reduce.
• Panel damage – occurs when a shadow falls on a portion of a panel, causing that portion of the panel to change from a conductor to resistance and begin heating up. That section of the panel will eventually burn out, necessitating the replacement of the entire panel.

Panel efficiency

As panel efficiency is calculate in relation to the area occupied by the panel, it influences the amount of rooftop space required. A simple way to understand; the relationship between panel efficiency and rooftop space require is to remember that a rooftop plant that uses panels with a lower efficiency rating will require more rooftop space than a plant that uses panels with a higher efficiency rating.

Also Read: – How Fresno Has The 3rd Highest Number of Homes in California with Solar Panels Rooftop.

What Factors Influence the Number of Solar Panels your Home Needs?

To truly comprehend how many solar panels your solar energy system requires, you must first determine:

• The amount of energy consumed by your home: Examine your monthly kWh usage on your electric bill.

• The average amount of sunlight in your neighborhood: As a general rule, the southwest receives the most sunlight in the United States, while the northeast receives the least.

• The wattage of the panel you buy is as follows: This determines the amount of energy produced by the solar panel.

  The Standard Size of A Solar Panel is:

• A 250-watt solar panel with 60 cells is 39 inches X 66 inches in size (3.25 ft X 5.5 ft).
• A 330-watt solar panel with 72 cells is 39 inches X 77 inches in size (3.25 ft X 6.42 ft).
• Both the 6 cell and 72 cell solar power panel have a thickness of around 40 mm.

So, if we do the math, one 330 watts solar panel has a surface area of 2 square meters or 21.51 square feet (Area of a rectangle = Length X Breadth).

These factors, however, are difficult to quantify on their own. Obtaining solar quotes from qualified solar companies is the most effective way to determine the best location for your home solar power system and the number of panels you will require. Solar installers can also give you an idea of the upfront costs of solar for your home, find a “solar panel installer near me” as well as what rebates and tax credits you may be eligible for.

>>>Also Read: – What Solar Subsidies are Available to California House Owners in 2021?<<<

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