How Many Solar Panels Do You Need?

The number of solar panels you need for your home or business depends on several factors. Learn more about how your unique property influences the number of solar panels you should install.

There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to solar panel systems. The amount of solar panels in an installation varies from system to system.

Your electric bill is a big factor determining how many solar panels you need. On EnergySage, most people aim to install enough panels to cover all of their electricity needs, because that’s how they’ll save the most money.

Your location is another factor. Solar panels produce different amounts of electricity depending on their geographic location. For example, if you install solar panels in Hawaii, you’ll produce more electricity in a year than if you installed the same number of panels in Vermont, simply because Hawaii gets more sunshine.

Ideally, your solar panels will be installed facing south in an area with no shade, but that’s not always possible. East or west-facing panels will still produce electricity, just not as much as south-facing. In that case, you might have to add extra panels to cover all of your electricity use.

Finally, some solar panels produce energy more efficiently than others. High-efficiency solar panels are more expensive, but they generate more energy, which means you have to install less of them.

Solar installers on EnergySage will take all of these factors into account when they custom design a solar panel system for your home or business.

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