How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?

Last updated on April 14, 2024

Are you thinking of installing solar panels on your property? If you are, you are making the right decision.

Solar panels have completely revolutionised the energy industry, where solar energy provides a cheap, clean, and reliable form of energy.

A recent study revealed that solar panel installation can save the average homeowner in Australia $2,000 on electricity each year and up to $33,000 over the entire lifetime of the solar panels.

There is so much you will gain when you install solar panels on your property.

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One of the biggest questions that most Australians who are planning to install solar panels on their property ask is: how many solar panels do I need?

The number of solar panels that you install matters a lot, since installing less than your home requirements will still result in high monthly electricity costs.

On the other hand, if you install more than your home requirements, then it would lead to waste. For optimal results, you need to install the correct number of solar panels that your home truly needs.

In this article, we will provide a detailed guide to help you determine how many solar panels you need.

How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?

We know you are expecting us to give you an exact figure of the number of solar panels you need to install in your house, but unfortunately, we cannot.

This is because the number of panels needed varies depending on many factors that we will discuss shortly below.

But an average size home in Australia (2500 square feet) needs between 17 and 25 solar panels to completely shift from the national grid.

Factors That Determine How Many Solar Panels You Need

As mentioned earlier, the number of solar panels you need varies depending on various factors.

The best way to determine the number of solar panels you need is by consulting a reputable solar installation company.

They will send a team to inspect your home and then advise you based on your unique needs. In this section, we will discuss factors that determine how many solar panels you need.

The size of your property

One of the biggest factors determining the number of solar panels you need to install is your home’s square footage.

Generally, the bigger the house, the higher the energy needs, and vice versa. So, if your property is big, more solar panels will likely be needed to meet your home’s energy needs.

Your property size also impacts roof space. The truth is that you can only install as many solar panels as your roof can accommodate.

For instance, if your house is small, then you can only install a few solar panels.

Therefore, you should consider the size of your property when determining the number of solar panels that you need to install.

Your geographical location

Another crucial factor that will determine the number of solar panels to install on your property is your geographical location.

Of course, you may be wondering how the number of solar panels is related to geographical location.

Your geographical location determines how much sunshine your home receives.

If you live in an area with fewer hours of sunlight exposure, then you will need to install more solar panels in order to meet your energy needs.

On the other hand, if you live in an area with long hours of sunshine, then a few solar panels will do the job.

The solar panel wattage

Wattage refers to the amount of power that the solar panels deliver. Solar panel wattage usually ranges between 150W and 350W.

Generally, the higher the wattage, the greater the power output, and vice versa.

If you use solar panels with low wattage, then you will need to install more panels to generate sufficient power for your home.

On the other hand, if you install high-wattage solar panels, then you only need a few solar panels to generate enough power for your home.

Solar panel output efficiency

This is a very important factor in determining the number of solar panels you need to install in your house.

Output efficiency varies among solar panels, with some panels having better output efficiency than others.

The truth is that not all days will be sunny. Some days will have very little sunshine, meaning your solar panels will draw in very little energy.

If your solar panels don’t have good output efficiency, then it will only take a few hours before they draw out all power.

On the other hand, if your solar panels have excellent output efficiency, then they will sustain you for days when there is little sunshine to power them.

Your power consumption habits

People have different power consumption habits. If your monthly power consumption is high, you need to install more solar panels to meet your power needs.

The average home in Australia needs between 17 and 25 solar panels to completely shift from the national grid.

If your home’s power consumption is higher than the national average, then you need to install more panels.

Similarly, if your power consumption is lower than the national average, then you only need to install a few solar panels.

So, make sure that you know your monthly power needs in order to install enough solar panels to meet them.

Final Thoughts

If you are planning to install solar panels on your property and wondering how many solar panels you need to install, we hope that this guide has answered your question.

On average, Australian households consume about 2800kWh per month. A single solar panel produces anywhere between 0.25kWh and 2kWh per hour, depending on wattage.

This means that an average household in Australia needs between 17 and 25 solar panels to completely stop relying on the national grid.

To get an exact figure for the number of solar panels you need to install on your property, we recommend that you consult a reputable solar installation expert.