There’s no doubt solar panels can have a significant impact on your home’s energy bill. The renewable energy source is cost-effective and has a positive impact on the environment by reducing emissions. But can you run a house entirely on the power of solar panels? The simple answer to this is yes.
Research shows that the solar rays hitting the earth’s surface in an hour can power the entire world’s energy consumption for a full year. Solar power is incredible and there are many homeowners who are fully off-grid. However, there are multiple factors to consider if you plan to power your home fully using solar panels.
So, if you’re wondering whether your home can run fully on solar power, read on to find out how this can work and some limiting factors.
Factors that Affect Ability to Power Your Home 100% with Solar Panels
Solar power is enough to cater to all your home’s energy needs. Nevertheless, there are some factors that affect your home’s ability to power your home 100% using solar panels. Here are some of these factors:
1. Your Home’s Energy Needs
Every home has unique energy needs. When you design solar panels for your home, this is one of the main factors the solar energy contractor considers. If your home’s energy needs surpass the generating capacity of your solar panels, it becomes impossible to enjoy a 100% solar-powered home. To leverage the full power of solar panels, your contractor has to evaluate your home’s energy needs and determine the size of the solar panel system. This includes the number of panels, energy storage system, and other factors to improve efficiency.
2. Your Home’s Location
Location is a critical consideration in solar panel installation. While some regions like Arizona enjoy a full year of sunlight, other regions have many cloudy days. If you install the same size of solar energy systems on similar homes in such disparate regions, the impact won’t be the same. The solar panels in the area with more sunshine hours can easily meet 100% of the property’s energy needs.
Your solar contractor calculates the hours of sunlight your home receives before the installation of the solar panels. The results help determine the size of the solar panel system your home needs to be 100% solar powered.
3. Your Home’s Roof Design
To maximize the power of solar panels, you need enough space on your roof. After calculating your home’s energy needs, the solar energy contractor designs the solar array and determines the number of panels required. Some roofs don’t support effective solar panel installation.
The design of your home can limit the number of solar panels and make it impossible to power the property fully on solar. Other factors, including the direction of the roof and obstructions, can also affect the ability to run your house fully on the power of solar panels. North-facing roofs receive less sun throughout the day. If this is the only available position, your solar energy system might not be highly effective.
4. Energy Storage
One of the best strategies to maximize the power of solar panels in your home is through powerful energy storage. High-performance solar energy batteries ensure you don’t revert to the grid whenever the solar panels don’t generate enough electricity. You always have some backup electricity to power your home and keep it green.
Can you run a house entirely on the power of solar panels? Of course, you can and Total Solutions in Arizona is here to help. Contact us today for comprehensive solar energy solutions across Arizona and make your home 100% solar powered.