2. How many Solar Panels do I need?
• If you are interested in the idea of using free, environmental
friendly energy to power your household, and you want to have
a solar panel array installed, one of the most basic requirements
you need to keep track of is the number of solar panels that you
need.
• There are many factors that would determine just how many
solar panels you would need to use, and how many you will
actually be able to buy. Some of these include the results of
your energy consumption target calculations (how much energy
your household appliances and devices need in order to
function properly), the budget you have at your disposal and the
type of solar panel you are using.
• Also, depending on whether you are considering the purchase of
a high tech solar array or you're thinking of building your own
solar panels yourself out of cheaper materials, the prices may
vary. Therefore, the number of solar panels you can put together
in an array may be different, and their quality might also have to
be assessed.
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3. Calculating Energy Consumption
• If you want to determine precisely how many solar panels you
need, it is essential to measure the amount of energy that a solar
panel can offer, and compare it with the value that you require.
Considering that a normal household consumes about 8000 –
9000 kwh on a yearly basis, and the fact that a $300 solar panel of
good quality can only provide about 100 – 200 watts of energy, the
number of solar panels you need to power your entire home may
be quite substantial.
• Of course, depending on your needs, you might not always have to
use up so much energy on a regular basis. Especially if you are an
environmental enthusiast, and you know how to choose
appliances that provide better
• functionality, while consuming less energy, you might actually be
able to reduce that number to half, or even less.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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4. • Also, if you want to build your own solar panel, you might find that the
manufacturing costs can effectively be reduced to under $200 for a standard
36 cell solar panel. Depending on the quality of your homemade solar array,
you only need about 30 or 40 solar panels to provide enough power for your
entire home.
• This number may still be too large, but it can be reduced if you wish to use
an additional type of energy, such as wind power. This can offer you more
energy on cloudy and rainy days, when solar panels don't operate as well,
and reduce the need for solar panels to half or even less.
• Use caution, as different types of solar cells will provide a varying amount of
energy. You can calculate the energy output easily, however: after you build
your DIY solar panel, measure the current and voltage it produces, and
multiply them to obtain the watt value. As a result, a small, 6 ampere solar
panel that produces 12 volts, for instance, will offer about 72 watts.
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5. Different Solar Panel Types
• The rate and efficiency with which solar cells are able to transform solar
energy into electricity also plays a part in determining how many solar
panels you will need.
• In the case of panels using monocrystalline solar cells, for
• example, the amount of sunlight needed for generating a specific amount of
energy is far less than in the case of thin film or polycrystalline cells.
• In 2010, a company that produces high quality monocrystalline solar panels
was able to break the world record for solar energy efficiency, producing
solar cells that could transform more than 24 % of the sun's rays into usable
electrical power.
• Some researchers even consider that, in a few years, it may be possible to
create monocrystalline solar cells that are able to go beyond the 30 % or
even the 40 % mark, significantly increasing the efficiency rating of these
types of solar cells, and that of solar energy in general.
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6. • A good example of the energy efficiency that these solar panels can offer
would be that a solar panel using a total of 36 monocrystalline cells can
generally produce around 100 to 130 watts. This practically means that if
you want to get 1 kw (1000 watts), you will need about 10 of these panels.
Depending on the quality and brand of the panel, pricing can range between
$3000 and $5000 for this plan.
• In contrast with these results, technologies using polycrystalline cells are
barely able to get close to the 20 % limit today, while thin film based
technologies hardly provide about 15 to 17 % efficiency.
• These numbers may conclude the technological superiority of
monocrystalline PV cells, but they do not prove that the best decision is to
buy such solar panels. It's true that you will not need as many solar panels
to reach a general output of about 1 to 3 kw in this case, but the problem is
that the more monocrystalline solar panels you buy, the greater the price
difference becomes.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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7. Budget Issues
• Now, everyone is usually thinking about budget issues when it comes to buying
or manufacturing a solar panel. DIY solar panels are obviously cheaper,
however, the quality differences can be great, not to mention that you will need
to put a lot of work into it, if you want your new solar panels to perform properly.
• If you decide to buy a solar panel, on the other hand, you will already have all
the numbers necessary regarding how many watts it produces, and how stable it
is. By using some simple math, you can then calculate exactly how many of
these devices you need in order to meet your energy target.
• The main problem here is that there are many brands focusing on offering
different types of solar panels based on a large number of different technologies.
As a result, you may have a hard time choosing between them, and you will
have to look around on numerous websites to find out what past buyers think
about any particular product.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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8. • Most people would believe that about $3000 to $8000 would be enough
for a viable solar panel array; however, the numbers might double
depending on your needs and the technology you want to use.
Fortunately, most manufacturers are already starting to develop better
technologies that allow people to buy more efficient solar arrays at a
considerably lower price.
• You have to take all the options into account, however, and avoid
clinging to some brands simply because they have a "catchier"
marketing agenda. Ultimately, the numbers will show you everything you
need to know, and you can make up your own mind regarding which
types of solar panels you should buy, and how many of them you will
need.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
http://advantagesanddisadvantagessolarenergy.com

9. Summary
• You will often find that the company you do business with may actually
provide you with a viable plan when it comes to dealing with energy
consumption and solar panel numbers. Based on your budget and the
proficiency of the solar power array you require, they can often give you a
precise estimate of how much energy you can get from your purchase.
• Use caution, however, since various brands may at times come up with new
technologies that are cheaper and more effective, and would make the
designs of other companies seemingly obsolete. You might actually realize
then that new opportunities can appear at every step of the way.
• So, if you are thoroughly informed about the factors that determine the
quality of the technology used for manufacturing solar panels, you will find
that you are in a much better position to establish how many of them you
need yourself, without having to worry about any unknown factors.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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10. • For more information on the advantages and disadvantages of solar
energy, go to http://advantagesanddisadvantagessolarenergy.com
• You'll discover...
• The facts about solar energy
• Exactly how solar energy works
• The price of installing solar energy
• Solar energy for home and business
• How to build a solar energy system
• How to make a solar oven
• ...and lots more! The information is ideal for students learning
about solar energy and home owners who are looking into
installing solar panels in their home.
• Please email any questions to
support@advantagesanddisadvantagessolarenergy.com