Solar Panel Calculator

If you’re interested in helping the planet and saving money, you might be thinking about switching to Solar Power. A Solar Panel Calculator can be a helpful tool for those wanting to switch to Solar. In addition, a Solar Panel Calculator can help you find the perfect Solar Panel to suit your household needs. You’ll need to consider your house’s size and what you’re already paying for your electricity bills. 

Once you decide to invest with National Solar Network, we can help you calculate all costs. Our Solar Panel Calculator can also help you determine how much of your electric bill you can offset. 

Why Should I Choose Solar Panels for Home Use?

The benefits of switching to renewable energy sources are undeniable. There are benefits for several areas of our lives that come with using Solar Panels for home use. In addition to Solar Power, many countries use hydroelectric power or wind power. What power source is best for your needs depends on your surrounding environment. 

Here are a few reasons why millions of Australian households switch to Solar Power. For example, over 30% of homes in Brisbane have switched to Solar Power Solutions. 

Switching to Solar Panels Can Improve Your Health

Did you know that using Solar Panels can indirectly improve your health? There will be less demand for traditional power plants by switching to solar power. Conventional power plants are usually fueled by coal and release substantial greenhouse gas emissions. With fewer traditional power plants emitting air pollutants, the air quality will increase. 

Solar Power Is a Reliable Source

Solar Panels for the home offer a reliable power source. Solar panels rarely break or malfunction. With proper care and maintenance, a good quality solar installation can power a home for up to 25 years. Furthermore, getting stuck without light during a blackout will never be a concern anymore. You might also be interested in investing in a Solar Battery for a backup energy supply. 

Solar Power is Cost-Stable

After you break even on your Solar Panel investment, you’ll be using free energy. Solar savings are much more stable from a cost perspective than other fuel sources. Oil prices are constantly skyrocketing, and electrical bills are also continually rising. You’ll never have to worry about the ever-changing gas prices or crazy high electric bills by switching to Solar power.

Solar Panel Calculator – What Solar Panel Size Do I Need? 

Choosing the right size solar panels for your home is critical. If you have a small roof or an unusual shape, it will be imperative to use a Solar Panel Calculator. With a small or irregular-shaped rooftop, you may have to compromise on the usable surface area. If you sacrifice functional space, you may need to compensate with efficiency. There is a step-by-step process for Solar Panel Calculations. 

Here is what that process looks like:

1. The first step is to calculate your solar panel needs or how much solar power your panel needs to produce. A Solar Panel Calculator will help determine this exact number. 
2. Your Solar Panel Needs is equal to the amount of electricity you consume divided by how much sun availability you have. So, the formula for calculating your solar panel needs might look like this:
   1. Total household electricity usage / (365 x 5). This example assumes that you get about 5 hours of peak sunshine in a day. 
   2. Since electricity consumption you use in this formula should be an annual amount, expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh). KWh are the most common standard units of measurement for electricity. 
   3. If you live in Australia, you probably get about five peak hours of sunlight per day. 
3. Account for environmental factors. In addition, consider how much you want to depend on solar power? In essence, how much of your electricity bill do you wish to offset? To calculate how much solar energy you need relative to your electric bill savings, use this equation:
   1. Solar panel size = solar panel output x (savings on electricity/environmental factors)
   2. Both your savings on electricity and environmental factors should be percentage amounts. 
   3. Environmental factors account for the percentage of energy your Solar Panel will produce and store without loss. Sometimes environmental conditions can affect your solar array output.
4. Now you need to estimate how much surface area you have available on your roof. Shaded parts of your roof are unusable as they will not generate any power. Once you evaluate your roof surface area, you can get a pretty good idea of the Solar Panel Size you need. 
5. Keep in mind that there is no “one size fits all” Solar Panel solution. It would help if you researched your local options for the panel size. After using the Solar Panel Calculator formulas, it’s time to get in touch with a quality service provider. 
6. You also want to know how many solar panels you need. The Solar Panel Calculator formula for that is:
   1. # of required panels = solar array size x 1000 / (number of sunlight hours per day x solar output in watts). 
   2. Typical output is about 300 watts but will vary depending on your Solar Panel size and how much sun you get. 
7. Lastly, you need to determine how much surface area your Solar Panels will cover. To find the area the potential panels would occupy, use this equation:
   1. The area occupied = the number of required panels x width of panel x length of the panel.
   2. If this “Area occupied” number is smaller than the size of your total roof surface area, your system will fit your roof. 

How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?

To find out how many Solar Panels you need, you can use a manual Solar Panel Calculator or an equation. For example, you can find that number by using this formula:

• Number of panels you need = system size/single of each panel
• Note that each panel’s size does not refer to its dimensions but its wattage. The size of the system will determine how much power you can expect from each Solar Panel.

Here are a few other factors to consider to determine how many solar panels you need:

• Your unique solar panel needs
• How much money do you want to spend?
• How much energy do you use?
• How Much do you intend to offset your electricity bills?
• How much surface area do you have available on your roof?
• Solar panel dimensions for the size you need

For example, let’s say you have a small roof. You may want to invest in fewer, more efficient panels. Solar panel efficiency can range anywhere from 15-20%. These rates are already factored into the power ratings in the panels.

If your total energy output fulfills your needs, the number of panels you have won’t matter. What’s more important is to have Solar Panels working efficiently and meeting your consumption needs. 

How Much Can I Save From Switching to Solar?

Solar power will unquestionably reduce your bills. Calculating your total savings is a simple formula: self-consumption + feed-in taffs = your total savings. 

To see how much you can save by switching to Solar power and calculate your overall payback, you’ll need to consider a few things:

• What postcode do you live in?
• How much sunlight will be available to your solar panels?
• How much energy will you self-consume?
• What the default self-consumption values are, based on your state
• The current cost of your electricity bills
• Whether or not you will have a solar battery as well

What Factors Do I Need to Consider Before Using a Solar Panel Calculator?

First and foremost, you will want to know how much sunshine is going to hit your solar panels. Then, find out what your current electricity bills are costing you. Finally, you also want to know how much you can get back in your area for feed-in tariffs. 

Your Roof Angle

The most common roof angles for Australian homes range from 22 degrees to 15 degrees. If you are unsure about your roof’s slope, 22 degrees is a safe median number to use. Using 22 degrees, you should still get an approximately close result from a Solar Panel Calculator. 

The Cost Of Your Electricity Usage

Solar Panel Calculators use typical electricity costs for your area. How much do you pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity? If you’re unsure, you can probably look at your electricity bill to find out. 

Selecting A Battery

If you are considering installing a Solar Battery, you will also need to factor this into your Solar Panel Calculations. If you don’t know what you want yet, you can use a generic 10kWh as a baseline example to get a rough idea of potential battery savings.  

Annual Electricity Cost

Most Australian households get four quarterly bills. Depending on the season, they may vary in amount, but you can use an average for Solar Panel Calculator purposes. 

Feed-In Tariffs

Feed-in tariffs refer to the money you can make back by selling your extra energy back to the grid. Solar Panel Calculators will use an average or median value for your area as a default.