There are many things to consider when deciding to set up a renewable energy system.

• How long do solar panels last for?
• What kind of system is best?
• Most importantly, how many solar panels for my home?

The amount and size of solar panels are a few of the factors that a person should consider when setting up a renewable energy system. The answers to these questions depend on the needs of the consumer.

A person has to consider how much energy they need, where to set up their renewable energy system, the climate of their location and the cost of the setup. They also need to decide between monocrystalline vs polycrystalline solar panels.  Certain solar panels may be costlier than others but give a higher efficiency, while some may give less efficiency than others but ultimately cost less. The amount of space in which the renewable energy system can be set up may also affect the choice of a solar panel to use. Additionally, using a ground mount system may be better for some homes that aren’t well-suited to rooftop solar.

If there is a larger space to set up the solar panels, then it is possible to choose lower-efficiency solar panels with multiple setups that could generate the same amount of energy as the higher-end solar panels. Areas with sunny climates have a better chance of generating solar energy than areas prone to clouds and rain.

The setup should also not be blocked from the sunlight such as by trees, shades, and posts. Let us look into counting how many solar panels a house needs to be efficient.

How Many Solar Panels to Power a House?

The direct answer to this question is that it depends. It depends on the size of the house, it depends on what is inside the house, it depends on how much sunlight the solar panels receive and it depends on what type of solar panels you have. But to give this an estimation, an average American household consumes about 11,000 kilowatts per year.

A standard 250-watt solar panel can generate 320 to 400 kilowatts depending on the climate and efficiency. Considering this, the number of solar panels needed to support a household that consumes 11,000 kilowatts per year is around 28 to 34 solar panels. The number of panels needed may increase or decrease depending on whether you choose panels of lower or higher efficiency.

A solar panel roof size calculator is an excellent tool to help you find the best solution for your home.

The amount of space that the house has to set up the solar panels would also affect this. If there is less space, then you may opt for a higher-efficiency solar panel to produce more energy with fewer panels. More space would give you the flexibility to opt for less efficient solar panels but set up multiple panels instead. How many solar panels to a house would really depend on the situation but can be estimated with the figures ab

If you base the number of solar panels that you will need for your consumption, then you must consider the different ways that you use electricity. Consider how many kilowatts your appliances use to function.

For example, a typical refrigerator consumes 600 kilowatt-hours per year. An air conditioning unit needs about 215 kilowatt-hours, while central air conditioning consumes 1,000 kilowatt-hours. On a 250-watt solar panel that can generate around 320 to 400 kilowatt-hours, a refrigerator would need two panels.

An air conditioning unit would need less than one panel, while a centralized air conditioning would need three. By considering the different appliances that would need to run on electricity, the amount of consumption can be computed and the number of solar panels one will need can be computed.

Ready to See How Much You Can Save with Solar?

Interested in getting exact prices for the cost solar for your home?

If you’ve weighed the solar power advantages and disadvantages, consider how long can a solar panel last and decided it makes sense for you, it’s time to get exact prices for the cost of solar for your home. Get competitive solar quotes from qualified, trusted installers in your area.

To see an estimate for how much you could expect to save and how much a solar system would cost, try our solar calculator.