Do I Get Enough Sun For Solar Panels

By calculating the average daily solar insolation the map provides the solar production capacity of different locations in america i e.

Do i get enough sun for solar panels.

Google s project sunroof gives building by building details and now has data for parts of all 50. In fact some of the states with the most installed solar in the country including new york new jersey and massachusetts are in the northeastern u s. According to the concord consortium makers of energy3d solar energy modeling software a home in boston ma with panels that face west would get 80 of the electricity that a house with south facing panels would. Solar panels which are typically made of crystalline silicon and use a system of lenses or mirrors to maximize the light that reaches them create an electric current when exposed to sunlight which is then used to produce electricity.

If your only available roof area for solar panels are north facing or you don t have much unobstructed room for. However solar energy world will never do that. In most parts of the us there are enough peak sun hours to make getting solar panels a worthwhile investment. Sadly some companies will still sell solar panel systems to homeowners that will not produce enough sunlight to offset the cost of a system thus making the system extremely expensive and inefficient.

In a state with strong peak sunlight a panel with lower efficiency will likely do the trick. The value of the electricity generated by the solar panels and the policies your state or municipality have in place are actually more important than how much sunlight there is. More famous for their cold snowy winters than sunny summer days. East and west facing roofs are also a good option because they get a lot of sun.

This nrel solar resource page provides an insolation map for the entire country. West facing solar panels get less sun than those that face south but it s not as little as you may think. The peak sun hours. Solar power is created through the harnessing of energy from the sun.

However it s best to do your research and make sure solar panels are the right decision for your home. Then set up an appointment for a solar consultation with an expert who will visit your home to inspect its orientation solar panels facing south capture more energy roof angle and tree shading to see if your roof will receive enough sunlight to meet your family s energy needs. You need a sunny roof to benefit from solar panels but yours may be sunnier than you think. While solar loves sunlight you might be surprised to learn that you don t have to live in the sunny southwest to achieve lots of solar savings.

How much sun do solar panels need.