Solar Panels And Solar Insulation Maps

Whether it is out of concern for the environment, a desire for energy independence, or as a way to save money, many people are installing solar panels on their homes. It is a great time to install a solar array; there are helpful tax incentives in many states, prices have fallen to their lowest point in history, and the cost of electricity continues to climb.

Before you decide to install an array, though, it is important to consider the cost and complexity of the system and what kind of benefit you can expect to derive in the future. When trying to determine what size of array is needed, get out your latest electrical bill and see what your typical level of consumption is. Electrical bills give your energy consumption in kilowatt-hours, which is a unit of energy. Solar panels, meanwhile, are rated in watts, indicating the peak power production when the sun is directly overhead on a cloudless day.

Solar panels will only produce this level of power for a couple of hours per day, so to figure out how much power a solar panel will produce, you need to find a solar insulation map. Solar insulation is a measure of how much sun an area gets during an average day and is typically given in hours. If your solar panels are rated at one thousand watts, and your city gets four hours of solar insulation per day, you can expect to generate about four thousand watt-hours per day, or four kilowatt-hours. Your power production will be higher in summer and will fall during the winter as the days become shorter, so if you wish to be energy independent, you will need to build excess capacity.

After determining the size of the solar array, you need to determine how much power storage is needed. Batteries are expensive, but if you do not install enough of them, some of your power may be wasted. Typically, you should buy enough batteries to store a full day’s worth of power. You will rarely use all of that electricity, but batteries last longer if they are not routinely discharged all the way. If your power company allows you to sell electricity back to the grid, you can buy fewer batteries and sell the excess power, buying it back again when needed. In some areas, this activity is subsidized, meaning that you can turn a small profit by buying and selling power.

In the end, the money saved each month will be small when compared to the initial investment. However, solar systems last for decades and require little maintenance. They add to the value of the house and reduce your personal impact on the world. With current costs you can expect to recoup your investment in as few as eight years.

By: Daniel Blinman

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