Do I Get Enough Sun For Solar Panels

Solar panels which are typically made of crystalline silicon and use a system of lenses or mirrors to maximize the light that reaches them create an electric current when exposed to sunlight which is then used to produce electricity.

Do i get enough sun for solar panels.

By calculating the average daily solar insolation the map provides the solar production capacity of different locations in america i e. But the amount of sunlight isn t the only thing that matters when it comes down to deciding whether going solar is a good decision or not. However solar energy world will never do that. You need a sunny roof to benefit from solar panels but yours may be sunnier than you think.

However it s best to do your research and make sure solar panels are the right decision for your home. Sadly some companies will still sell solar panel systems to homeowners that will not produce enough sunlight to offset the cost of a system thus making the system extremely expensive and inefficient. The value of the electricity generated by the solar panels and the policies your state or municipality have in place are actually more important than how much sunlight there is. Then set up an appointment for a solar consultation with an expert who will visit your home to inspect its orientation solar panels facing south capture more energy roof angle and tree shading to see if your roof will receive enough sunlight to meet your family s energy needs.

This nrel solar resource page provides an insolation map for the entire country. More famous for their cold snowy winters than sunny summer days. In most parts of the us there are enough peak sun hours to make getting solar panels a worthwhile investment. In fact some of the states with the most installed solar in the country including new york new jersey and massachusetts are in the northeastern u s.

East and west facing roofs are also a good option because they get a lot of sun. Google s project sunroof gives building by building details and now has data for parts of all 50. How much sun do solar panels need. While solar loves sunlight you might be surprised to learn that you don t have to live in the sunny southwest to achieve lots of solar savings.

Solar power is created through the harnessing of energy from the sun. While 5 kilowatts of solar would generate about 16 5 less electricity in boston than in los angeles the value of that electricity is actually only 10 less because electricity. In a state with strong peak sunlight a panel with lower efficiency will likely do the trick. West facing solar panels get less sun than those that face south but it s not as little as you may think.

The peak sun hours.