1. What is Solar Power Requirement Calculation?

Definition: This calculator estimates the solar panel power needed based on your energy requirements, available sunlight, and system performance.

Purpose: Helps homeowners and solar installers determine the appropriate solar panel capacity for a given energy need.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Required solar power (watts)
• \( Load \) — Daily energy requirement (watt-hours)
• \( H \) — Peak sunlight hours per day
• \( PR \) — Performance ratio (system efficiency, 0-1)

Explanation: The energy requirement is divided by the product of sunlight hours and performance ratio to account for system losses.

3. Importance of Solar Power Calculation

Details: Accurate calculations ensure your solar system meets energy needs without oversizing (which increases costs) or undersizing (which reduces reliability).

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your daily energy needs in Wh, average sunlight hours for your location, and performance ratio (default 0.75). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the performance ratio?
A: It accounts for system losses (typically 0.75-0.85) due to temperature, wiring, inverter efficiency, dirt, etc.

Q2: How do I find my sunlight hours?
A: Check solar insolation maps or use tools like NASA's solar database for your location.

Q3: Should I include battery losses?
A: If using batteries, reduce the performance ratio further (e.g., multiply by 0.9 for battery efficiency).

Q4: Does this account for cloudy days?
A: No, you should use the worst-month sunlight hours or add a safety margin (20-30% more power).

Q5: How do I convert kWh to Wh?
A: Multiply kWh by 1000 (1 kWh = 1000 Wh).