The first question most customers ask is “What Size Solar System Do I Need”? The answer is: It depends on how much electricity you use. Two homes the exact same size will often use different amounts of electricity and therefore require different size systems. Major electrical loads within a home such as air conditioners, electric heaters, pools pumps and motors must be examined since they use the most energy.

The average 1,500 sq. ft. single-family home in the state of Florida uses about 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year or 30 kilowatt-hours per day.  A modern solar panel will generate an average of 2 kilowatts per day during an average of five (5) hours of “good sunlight”.  That means if a home that needs 30 kilowatt hours per day the same energy can be generated with approximately 15 solar panels.  Sometimes a PV system is built larger to allow for charging a Tesla Powerwall, the possibility of a growing family, an electric car or other factors that may play a part. When a system overproduces electricity, the unused portion is fed back into the grid and will actually be credited back to your utility account in a program called net-metering.  Keep in mind both utilities in the Florida Keys sell power at full retail ($.15~.19/kWhr) and buy your excess energy at full wholesale ($.04~.07/kWhr).  The difference is 3 to 1.  Meaning if you are exporting energy you are only receiving 33% of the value of that energy.  When one has a Tesla Powerwall system that excess energy is stored and used at the full retail value and one of the many reasons storage is very common and  popular in the Florida Keys.

The actual amount of electricity produced is dependent on how much sunshine reaches the panels on your home. Text books suggest the best position for solar panels is facing south with nothing blocking the sun’s rays.  Mostly true however, solar panels facing east and west produce about 90~95% of their southern companions and may produce electricity far more hours per day than those facing only south.  Things like trees, other buildings and structures produce shade and must be minimized. A truly optimized home may have solar panels on the east, west and south faces.

It is always best to start by examining your energy goals: are you interested in completely eliminating your monthly electric bill (minus standard utility connection fees) or just make a dent?  Do you want power back-up should the grid go down? What are the “rules” of your current electric service provider? What are the tax benefits and cost to recover your investment? All of these things must be considered to provide the best results at the lowest cost.

Businesses are also very unique in their energy needs so everything must be factored in to calculate the size of system needed.

For the best answers to What Size Solar System Do I Need? can be found by calling Florida Solar One and speaking with one of our Certified Solar Specialist.  If you seek a free estimate or just want to ask some questions please call us at: 305-517-5876