1. What is a Solar Power Requirement Calculator?

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

Purpose: It helps homeowners, businesses, and solar installers determine the appropriate solar panel capacity for specific energy needs.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Solar power required (watts)
• \( L \) — Energy load (watt-hours)
• \( H \) — Peak sunlight hours per day
• \( PR \) — System performance ratio (0-1)

Explanation: The energy requirement is divided by the product of sunlight hours and performance ratio to determine the needed solar panel capacity.

3. Importance of Solar Power Calculation

Details: Accurate solar power estimation ensures your system meets energy needs, avoids oversizing (which increases costs), and helps with proper system design.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your daily energy requirement in watt-hours, average peak sunlight hours (default 5), and system performance ratio (default 0.75). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I find my energy requirement (load)?
A: Check your electricity bills for daily kWh usage (multiply by 1000 to get Wh), or sum the wattage × hours of all devices you want to power.

Q2: What are typical sunlight hours?
A: This varies by location - 3-4 hours in northern areas, 5-6 in sunny regions. Check solar maps for your location.

Q3: What affects the performance ratio?
A: Factors include panel efficiency (0.15-0.22), inverter efficiency (~0.95), temperature losses, wiring losses, and soiling.

Q4: Should I include battery storage in this calculation?
A: This calculates panel requirements. For battery sizing, you'll need to consider days of autonomy and depth of discharge separately.

Q5: Does this account for seasonal variations?
A: No, use the worst-month sunlight hours if you want year-round reliability, or size for average and supplement in winter.