A homeowner’s guide for choosing the right number of solar panels

What determines the best number of solar panels for homes?

Whether you are just getting started or are ready to go solar today, calculating the right number of panels for your installation is a vital step of the process. After your installation, if additional capacity is required to meet your home's energy needs, solar microinverters make it easy to expand your system one panel at a time.

Home energy consumption

More than anything, calculating how many solar panels your home needs begins with understanding your property's electricity consumption. Found on utility bills, home electricity consumption is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). While energy use varies widely by region and building size, the average American home consumes about 10,500 kWh annually or 875 kWh per month.

As solar energy systems help lower utility bills, most installations are designed to produce the amount of electricity equivalent to a home's annual grid power consumption or slightly more-within the limits of local policies, guidelines, and electrical codes.

Roof space, orientation, and sunlight availability

Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels harness the sun's energy to generate electricity. Therefore, the number of solar panels needed for your home depends on the amount of sunlight able to reach a system installed on-site. Homes that receive more sunlight, both in annual hours and solar irradiance, can produce more electricity each year than less-sunny properties with the same number of panels installed.

In North America, southern-facing, sloped roofs are ideal for solar energy generation, though any roof surface with direct sunlight exposure may suffice. Solar panels must be installed on a surface that is free of obstructions, and microinverters can help maximize electricity generation for any solar panels that become shaded throughout the day. If there's not enough room on your roof for your desired number of panels, you may be able to find an alternative solution such as a ground-mounted system or an off-site community solar garden.

Solar panel efficiency and wattage

Getting into the technical aspects of how solar works, solar panels' efficiency and wattage ratings determine how much electricity they can produce in ideal conditions. Solar equipment capabilities vary by brand and model, though most residential panels have efficiency ratings of around 20% and wattages between 300 watts and 450 watts (W). Besides wattage and efficiency ratings, the number of solar panels you need to power your home may also depend on the performance of your other PV system components, such as your inverters.

Future energy needs

As you plan your solar panel system, consider any anticipated increases in your home's energy demands. Although it may be possible to add more panels later for extra costs, overcompensating for additional electricity use can help maximize your long-term solar return on investment by avoiding future labor and permitting expenses.

While many things may influence property energy demand, a solar power system can help keep consumption costs low after electrifying gas-powered appliances, adding a new household member, or purchasing and charging an electric vehicle (EV) at home.

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