Which is totally unrealistic for most people. Ideally, we’re looking for a north-facing roof or elevation, free from shading and at a pitch of between 10 and 40 degrees. But before you can reap the rewards of solar power, you need to establish how many solar panels you need … Test how much power you need to deliver to your appliances every day to keep them charged using the REDARC Solar Calculator. How Many Solar Panels Do You Need? A 3 kW installation will generate enough energy to make a significant dent in your power bill, while still being in the $10,000 or less price range. The solar panel calculator then estimates how much your total appliance power requirement is per day and suggests products and equipment that will help you meet those needs. Ask them about the assumptions made when they demonstrate a five year or seven year payback period. Online store by, LOW FIXED FREIGHT FOR ALL NEW ZEALAND ORDERS. Not all solar panels are the same. You have a solar system controller, which automates this load shifting. The chart below from demonstrates a typical residential solar scenario, showing the timing difference between what you generate and what you use. Typical questions that will be asked are: For example, my power bill might show that I am using on average 700 kWh (units) of power per month. While you used to religiously set you dishwasher for midday, you forget every second day and end up putting it on after dinner. They will definitely hear about the installations that don’t perform as expected. ... To help people do the maths, it has put a solar calculator on its website. The perfect system size will depend most of all on you. Sizing your solar investment based upon actual consumption is the best way to reliably avoid over or under-sizing. So… all I am saying is beware or the small print and assumptions when a solar panel manufacturer or installer quotes you savings and payback periods. Those solar panels used for residential purposes range from 150 watts to 370 watts per panel, depending on the panel size efficiency and cell technology. Once you have this data, you can then make an informed decision whether this load can be shifted (manually, or using a smart controller) to the middle of the day to benefit from solar. Divide the watts you need to produce per hour by the rating of the panels you want to purchase and round up. The solar panel calculator can help you work out what equipment you need … Supplied by SEANZ (the official solar association of New Zealand), this solar calculator can help determine the annual savings and payback period you can expect from a solar power system … Experienced solar installers will know their systems and their local area and will  get feedback from previous customers on a daily basis. The rate is known as the ‘solar buy-back rate’ in NZ or ‘feed-in tariff’ overseas. Like the oven to cook dinner, TV in the evening, lights when it’s dark and maybe charging the electric vehicle overnight. The second major restriction is often the installed system cost. Therefore : To ensure the best return on your solar investment, the amount of power you generate must be matched to your power consumption habits. This allows you to talk specifics with potential solar providers. I’ll guide you through the right ways, and wrong ways, to determine your solar power system size in an unbiased, data-driven way. She is at home during the day with two kids, and actively works hard to maximise self-consumption by using appliances such as the washing machine, dryer, dishwasher etc during the middle of the day. Sizing your solar investment based upon actual consumption is the best way to avoid over or under-sizing. With solar, if you’re not using the power generated by your panels then it is typically exported to the local power grid for others to use. If I used a decent amount of energy on weekdays, payback time falls to 15 years … Is it likely to need painting or replacement anytime soon? Or better yet, look at your actual historical consumption and make a fully informed decision. Off Grid Solar Calculator -Off Grid Solar in this case refers to battery stored solar panel systems, either connected to utility or standalone. If you want to install solar panels, you should weigh up the potential costs against the potential savings. New Zealand Average Installation Sizes Residential installations in NZ can vary from a small 1.5 kW installation, up to sizable three-phase solar systems of 8 – 10 kW. This is a really simple calculator that recommends you a solar system size based upon power bill data. Please, use the update button below the calculator body to update the … REDARC solar panels are easy to use, portable and highly efficient, however it can be difficult to work out which type and how many are best suited for your trip. During the sunny month of February, this was her household bill: What you should notice is that even with her best efforts, during the sunniest part of the day there was still solar power exported. Welcome to SPCNZ - the leading solar power installation company in New Zealand. This is covered in more detail under solar panel sizing below. Before you start shopping for solar installers and debating solar panels, inverters and efficiencies – you should first look inwards. Equally, when sizing the output of your solar power system there is no substitute for actual power usage history. Solar panels convert the light from the sun's rays into electricity, so you don't need … A home that consumes 1,000 kWh per month will normally need between 20 and 30 solar panels. For residential at least. This is a basic method, best used at a local level by a trusted solar power installer who has a solid understanding of the local area. To get these numbers, we used high and low panel production … This can be done in a number of ways. To start with we work out what sized batteries we need and then what size solar panels we need to charge them. It can also be used to provide misleading economics and savings calculations. The best way to do this is obtaining your historical power consumption from your power retailer, and analysing this to determine the optimal solar power system size. All rights reserved. All you do is plug in your location, average monthly power usage and average cost of each unit (kWh) or electricity. 700 x 12 = 8400 kWh per year. The recommendation could be for a solar power system that generates 50% of your average monthly energy consumption. Also consider the condition of your roof. Otherwise, you are gambling that your system will achieve your solar goals. Read from the start, or use the menu to skip to the sections you are most interested in. A standard panel … Which in Auckland equates to around 3 kW of optimally placed solar generation. The number of solar panels needed=5000/240=20.8 solar panels. The solar panel calculator can help you work out what equipment you need to fully charge your next camping, caravaning or off-road adventure. The importance of matching generation to consumption is known as also referred to as ‘self-consumption’. When choosing the best system size for your property, there are three key factors you will need to determine: The proportion of your electricity usage you are aiming to meet with solar energy. What you should aim to determine is the ideal amount of generation you require from your solar power system. Solar system sizes are measured in kilowatts and, depending on where you are and which direction your roof faces, each kilowatt of your solar panel … I want to ensure that you get the most out of your solar power system and don’t get ripped off. How Many Solar Panels Do You Need to Power Your Home? Solar Calculator. So back to Australia, they now have an unsubsidised solar environment now very similar to NZ (hence the uproar I guess!). Let me demonstrate with a real life example. This is the gold standard for sizing a solar system and is especially important if you are using a lot of power, such as a large home or business premises. In NZ, although you might pay 25¢ for each unit of power you from your power company, if you export excess power during the day you’ll only receive a paltry 7¢ – 8¢ for each unit sold back. Look at whether you can realistically shift load to fully utilise your generation. Once you have determined the generation required from your solar system, the next step is to look at the practicalities of installation and cost. Finally select all the appliances that will require power. By utilising battery storage (currently not economic), altering your power usage habits, using a smart solar controller or all of the above. Most of New Zealand is suited to PV solar panels with good sunshine hours annually. The area of ‘optimal’ roof space you have available for solar panels. Available 250W and 255W panels from: YingLi. In the example above, you would need 24 solar panels to account for 80% of your average consumption (29.6 … Also, note the difference in price between export and import. “What size solar system do I need?” The size of your solar power system, and therefore the number of solar panels you need, should be informed by your electricity usage patterns and what you want to achieve.. Your actual consumption, you will be able to see the influence of large energy consuming appliances such as heat pumps, air-con, pool heaters, hot water cylinders and lighting. It’s just not accurate enough, and there is a serious risk of exporting significant power, not being able to self-consume and having a detrimental effect on system economics. A 5kW solar system can be made up of … … However, you can have a different number of panels for the same size system. The average installed system size is around 3.6 kW. This is kind of handy, but I the stated “Annual Electricity Cost Saved” figure is a total load of rubbish. The number of solar panels that you need depends on the system size that you select. Solar System Output Calculator; ... Write down how big your solar system would need to be in kW. Use the solar panel sizing calculator to determine the right amount of paneling you will need to heat your pool year round. how much of your consumption you are looking to offset with your own generation. Copyright © 2020 REDARC NZ. As an engineer,  I think there is a place for detail, analysis and optimisation. If you are like me and partial to a Tim Tam, you’ll know there is no substitute for quality. This is why I am writing this article, to help you install the most efficient solar system for you. They will know how previous installations have performed, how much customers they are saving on their power. A good salesperson may sell you on an amazing payback period based upon shifting almost all of your consumption to the sunniest part of the day. Updated December 11, 2020 The amount of solar panels your home needs depends on the amount of energy your home needs, as well as the efficiency of your panels. Lets work out the Watt-Hours we'll be using, our load … Well, it’s all the energy generated by the recommended 3.24 kWp package multiplied by 25c electricity price. Calculate the amount of solar panels you will need to heat your pool. Canadian Solar… There are a couple of options for sizing a solar power system. The recommendation could be for a solar power system that generates 50% of your average monthly energy consumption. If you are going off-grid, then a lot more thought needs to go into the sizing decision, coupled with energy efficiency and intelligent storage of surplus energy. Probably the most common means of sizing a solar installation is look at recent power bills, and then sanity check against the solar installer’s experience or ‘rule of thumb’ guide. This method is often used in conjunction with the ‘rule of thumb’ sizing and is common for solar installers, online solar calculators and panel manufacturer websites. There has recently been an uproar from solar customers in Australia as their government has moved away from subsidising solar with artificially high buy-back rates. Few things about solar panel output efficiency. If you encounter any display or technical problems, or have any other feedback regarding the Solar Calculator, please send an email to. How many solar panels do I need? One major restriction may be the available, suitable roof area for your solar installation. So, to offset 50% of my 8,400 kWh on an annualised basis I would size my system for 4200 kWh per year. Solar Panel Sizing Calculator For In-Ground Pool Heating. This will tell you how many panels to use. Other factors such as peak load, shade, location, available panel space, and seasonal use need to be taken into account. I work from home during the day, but our consumption remains pretty low apart from the typical evening peak. Here’s my household consumption from Monday this week. But realistically, in my experience, most people go back to their old habits after a while. Using our tool, we factor in: Improved Shade Analysis – Powered by Google Sunroof data, all estimates consider the shading and irradiance levels of every roof plane, with the panel … Residential installations in NZ can vary from a small 1.5 kW installation, up to sizable three-phase solar systems of 8 – 10 kW. After rounding it up we receive that you need to buy 21 solar panels. A friend living north of Auckland has solar. Now to the actual calculations you need. For residences, a system size around 3 kW is popular. However, matching a system size to your power demands won't eliminate your power … Next, we need to look at how many solar panels can fit on your property. For my example, it looks like I will save $1,184.25 (highlighted). You do get paid for this excess energy. Based on their experience with other customers and their solar performance, they can recommend a certain size for your installation. At the end of 2016, there were around 11,000 … This will maximise the return on your solar investment and avoid your panels being just an expensive ornament. For increased accuracy, there must be some input from the home or business owner on their power usage habits to get at least a roughly accurate result. If you buy more than one panel, all shipped panels will be from the same manufacturer. This sizing guide is focused on grid-tied solar and helping get the best ‘bang for your buck’. The easiest way to figure this out is to look at past electricity bills, which should tell you how much power you've used in the previous month or quarter. Buy-Back Rates are (unfortunately) Rubbish, Options for Solar Power System Sizing (in brief), Watch the Small Print & Remember the Importance of Self-Consumption, Your solar goals – personal, environmental and financial, Where you live and how much sunlight you get, and (of course), You are considering a smaller solar installation, There is the ability to shift load such as your hot water cylinder using timers, Appliances such as washing machines can be delayed to start during the middle of the day, and/or. Next you choose the auxiliary battery bank size you’ll be running. (2) They are particularly good for our most sunny regions, such as Northland, Auckland, Nelson, Bay of Plenty and Marlborough. Complementing this range are the REDARC Sine Inverters, Regulators and In-Vehicle Chargers, Solar Regulator Cable Kits and other accessories that will create the perfect solar power setup. The most important step is to ensure your system is sized correctly in the first place. A typical American home will need 14-36 … This is an increase of 30% over the preceding 12 months and more than double the 5,000-odd installed only two years earlier. According to the calculator, the best thing I could do to improve the economics of solar would be to start working from home. Disclaimer: These output calculations use sunlight data supplied by the New Zealand Bureau of Meteorology from most New Zealand … The power output of solar panels is measured in watts (W) and can … This method can be inspiring for homeowners, dreaming of generating 50% of their own power usage. You should aim to use your solar power, not export it. To calculate how many solar panels are needed, multiply a household’s hourly energy requirement by peak sun hours for the area and divide by a panel’s wattage. Simply select the type of car or motorhome you have, and select your towing unit if you’ll be using one. The most important point to remember is that your solar system output should match your consumption habits. Be it six days or six months. This is even easier if you have a smart meter installed; you should be able to see your daily usage either on the bill or by checking you… If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’ll back up a moment. For the most accurate and personalized off-grid system size calculation, call our solar … My family is no different, we use most of our power when the kids get home from school, I’m cooking tea, Mrs Power Guy is popping the washing on etc. Solar panels are a great way of reducing energy bills while lowering your carbon footprint. If you can talk to installers intelligently around generation output, you are one step ahead of the game. For instance, monocrystalline photovoltaic (PV) solar panels are known to be the most efficient solar panels … From this you can figure out the average daily usage. Click here to use our interactive solar power system calculator or to find your local solar panel technician. You can't correctly size your solar PV system unless you know how much electricity your home uses. If you are planning to move on from your property within the next five to seven years, you need to consider whether you will get the expected return on your investment. How much of your power do you want to come from solar. Here’s an example from Solar King in Takapuna: For small to medium consumption residential customers, a ‘rule of thumb’ approach can be appropriate in scenarios where some of the following items apply: If some of these items apply, then the risk of dramatically over or under sizing the solar system is pretty low. Will the new owner pay a premium price to reflect the solar installation? Small solar panels Yet, you can also find panels … The typical homeowner will need 28 – 34 solar panels to cover 100% of their energy usage (dependent on location and roof size). Will they care if the solar installatioin is 2kW or 5kW? As it is a data-driven approach, using your actual power bills, it’s also often the method adopted by online solar calculators and panel manufacturer websites. If however you are on a prepaid meter (the evil things) then you will need put a power … So it’s important to be realistic. No matter whether you are a homeowner or a business owner. If I am in Auckland, using 700 kWh per month and my power company charges me 25c per unit of power – the output looks something like this: The website matches the closest Mitsubishi solar package to a 50% usage target, which in this case is the 3.24kWp package. Solar power systems for households rarely go above 10kW in size. This ‘50%’ figure is also referred to as the ‘grid offset’, i.e. If you encounter any display or technical problems, or have any other feedback regarding the Solar Calculator, please send an email to: power@redarc.com.au. Use a low-wattage (150W) and high-wattage (370W) example to establish a range (ex: 17-42 panels … REDARC solar panels are easy to use, portable and highly efficient, however it can be difficult to work out which type and how many are best suited for your trip. How did they get this figure? REDARC have a range of solar panels and blankets that are designed to the highest quality to maximise efficiency and integrity. Solar panel type and quality make a significant difference in terms of solar output and efficiency. These 250W and 255W solar panels are used and in good physical condition. A 6kW solar panel system produces enough electricity to match the average New Zealand household's consumption of grid produced electricity (which is 7,000kWh a year). 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