Sunlight contains useful solar energy in the form of both heat irradiance (infrared) and visible light irradiance. Two types of solar technologies have been developed to use this renewable energy: solar thermal panels and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.
Solar thermal panels use infrared solar energy from the sun to heat water. This was the first solar energy tech to see widespread adoption. The second solar energy tech is solar PV panels, which turn sunlight into electricity.
Initially less popular, in the last 10 years, solar PV has exploded in popularity thanks to huge falls in cost. In fact, the term ‘solar panels’ is now generally understood to refer to solar PV panels. These solar panels are grid-tied, which means your house can be powered by them when the sun is out but also remain powered by the grid at night.
This depends on how much electricity you use, where you live, your roof characteristics, and the percentage of your power bill that you would like to eliminate.
The main two types of solar panels for homes are polycrystalline solar panels and monocrystalline panels. While monocrystalline solar panels produce slightly more power per square foot because they are slightly more efficient, polycrystalline panels tend to be cheaper.
The amount of power that solar panels will produce depends on your location and the characteristics of your roof. In the sunniest parts of the country, you can get 1500 or more kilowatt hours (kWh) per 1 kW of DC peak capacity, but in other places, such as the northeast, you can get as little as 1100 kWh per 1 kW DC peak capacity.
If you enter your address into the solar calculator, it will show you how much electricity solar panels produce where you live. If you have a roof that does not face south or has an unusual tilt, then you may wish to use the PVWatts calculator. Although, this does not have solar panels cost information.
Right now, while the 30% solar tax credit exists and net metering is in place, solar is typically an excellent investment for homeowners. However, for a specific individual, the answer to this question depends on how much you spend on power, where you live, the characteristics of your roof, and your views as to what is an acceptable return on investment.
The good news is that Solar-Estimate’s solar calculator takes your individual circumstances into account to produce a detailed cost and savings estimate for you. Just enter your details below to get started.
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