Consuming 2,000 kWh of electrical power per month means you are consuming approximately twice more as the national average. Here, the average electrical power consumption for U.S. residential utility customers is 10,632 kWh per annum, an average of about 886 kWh per month.
Thus, going solar for such an amount of power consumption per month is more than a good financial decision it is also, good for the national power grid as well as for the environment. Furthermore, considering $0.18 per unit, going solar power plant will save you $4,320 over a year on your utility bills. Moreover, you will get the benefits of 30% federal tax with solar.
However, before going solar you want to learn how many numbers of solar panels are required to generate 2000kWh of power per month then this blog has all the information you need before going solar.
How to calculate the number of Solar panels required for generating 2000 kWh per month in the USA?
The number of solar panels required to generate 2000kWh per month depends upon two things
First is weather conditions: The power generation of solar panels depends upon the weather conditions of the region you are living in. Thus, the number of solar panels needed to generate 2000 kWh per month could be different for different states of the USA.
If you are living in states like Arizona and New Mexico where the per day average sunshine time is the national highest which is 5-6 hours per day then it requires fewer numbers of solar panels as compared to states with a lower average sunshine hour per day.
Here is a good example, 1 kW of the solar power plant in states like Arizona and New Mexico can produce 135-145 kWh per month, and the same plant in states like WISCONSIN & MICHIGAN will produce 84-87 kWh per month. Refer to the below graphic showing the average power generation per day by 1 kW of solar plant for different states of the US.
Many other reasons can affect the power generation of a solar panel. To get the right estimation to fulfill your requirements, I strongly recommend you take a solar survey.
Second is the wattage of the Solar panels: A higher wattage of solar panels like 400 watts requires fewer numbers of solar panels to produce 2000kWh per month. Moreover, a lower wattage of solar panels like 250 watts requires more numbers of solar panels. Furthermore, a 400-watt solar panel generates 60% more power than a 250-watt solar panel however in dimension 400-watt solar panel is only 28% bigger than a 250-watt solar panel.
Therefore, going solar with a higher wattage of solar panels will not only save space on your rooftop but also, allow you to install more solar panels in the future if your power consumption increases.
In addition to the above, the maximum rating of a solar panel is increased every one and a half years and the availability of these panels depends on their production volume and their distribution network. For a better understating of how solar panel size works, I advise you to take a solar survey.
Calculating the number of solar panels to generate 2000kWh per month
For our calculation, I will use 400 Watt of solar panels and take two cases
First case: Sates with 5-6 hours of sunshine per day.
One (1) kW of the solar power plant can generate an average of 4.5 kWh per day in the states with 5-6 hours of sunshine per day. Hence, for calculating the number of solar panels required to generate 2000kWh per month following steps can be used.
Power needs to be generated per day = 2000kWh /30 days = 66.67 kWh.
Power one 400-watt solar panel can generate in a day = 4.5 x 0.4 = 1.8 kWh.
Hence,
Required numbers of solar panels = 66.67kWh/1.8 kWh = 37 numbers.
Second case: States with 3.5-4 hours of sunshine per day.
One (1) kW of a solar power plant can generate an average of 2.8 kWh per day in the states with 3.5-4 hours of sunshine per day. Hence, for calculating the number of solar panels required to generate 2000 kWh per month following steps can be used.
Power needs to be generated per day = 2000kWh /30 days = 66.67 kWh.
Power one 400-watt solar panel can generate in a day = 2.8 x 0.4 = 1.12 kWh.
Hence,
Required numbers of solar panels = 66.67kWh/1 kWh = 60 numbers (Approx.).
From the above two cases we have concluded, how many solar panels are needed to generate 2000 kWh per month.
By using the same method you can calculate, how many solar panels are needed for
Or you can do a reverse calculation to calculate how much power can the solar system generate in your city.
How many solar panels for 2000kWh per month?
To generate 2000 kWh per month you will require 37 numbers of 400-watt solar panels if your city has 4.5-5 hours of average sunshine per day over a year. Moreover, if your city has 3.5-4 hours of average sunshine per day over a year then you will require 60 numbers of 400-watt solar panels. Get a FREE solar survey to check the true potential of your rooftop.
From the above conclusion, it is clear that, if you are living in a state with less sunshine per day, then you need to buy 60% more numbers of solar panels to generate 2000 kWh of power per month.
You surely need some more consultancy before going solar, hence I strongly recommend you connect with one of the best solar companies in the USA by filling out the Solar Quote Form.
From the above explanation, you can easily calculate what size of the solar system you require to generate 2000 watts per month.
What size solar system for 2000 kWh per month?
You will need 14,800 Watts of the solar system to generate 2000 kWh per month if your state receives 4.5-5 hours of average sunshine days over a year however if your state receives only 3.5-4 hours of sunshine then you will need 24,000 watts of the solar system.
>> FREE Solar Quote.
Now, you know how many numbers of solar panels you need and what size of the solar system you require, however, there are lots of other equipment you need to know too. Like solar inverters, what size of solar cable you need, how to do earthing of solar panels and lots more.
Also, some factors can affect the size of the solar system size you need and these factors can be determined only after the solar survey.
2,000 kWh per month Solar system cost.
The price of a solar system per watt ranges from $2.1 to $2.95 depending on the caliber of the tools used in installation and the labor force needed to install it; as a result, the cost of a solar system for a 2,000kWh per month solar system in the USA ranges from $31,080 to $43,660.
In addition to the aforementioned, you might also need to spend a little extra for the solar installation because there are a variety of variables that can affect how much a solar system costs, like the rooftop's accessibility and the battery backup. Some of the most important variables are listed below.
Factors that influence the cost of the solar system.
Rooftop type: Solar Installation cost for a flat rooftop is higher than inclined rooftop because a flat rooftop requires more structure and takes more time for installation than an inclined rooftop. However, installing on a rooftop with a higher angle of inclination needed a man-lifter crane, which raised the cost of installation.
Age of Rooftop: An old rooftop may require repairing before the installation of solar panels. Installing, solar panels on rooftops without inspection may lead to much higher repair costs.
Solar panels type: Solar panels are classified into monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline solar panels are more expensive than polycrystalline panels. Monocrystalline, on the other hand, is more efficient and smaller. Monocrystalline panels are preferable for rooftops with smaller shadow-free areas.
Solar inverter type: For rooftop solar systems there are two types of solar inverters are used, that is micro-inverters and string inverters. Micro-inverters are directly mounted on each solar panel, whereas string inverters are mounted in your houses and DC cables from all solar panels are connected to string inverters.
Going with a string inverter is cheap; however, the performance of micro inverters is much better in terms of efficiency as well as in the expendability of the solar system. Furthermore, string inverters come with 5 years of warranty, whereas micro-inverters come with 25 years of warranty.
Tracking system: A tracking system tracks the weather with weather monitoring sensors as well as solar power generation. Weather tracking helps estimate the actual efficiency of the solar panels and it comes with a cost too.
However, for a household solar system, you will not have weather monitoring tracking. It is only required for utility-scale systems (>100kW)
Battery Backup: If you need battery backup with solar for backup power during a power outage then you will need to pay more for the same. The cost to pay for battery backup is subject to the size of the battery bank.
6 easy steps to choose the right solar installation company.
You are currently at the halfway point of your solar journey since you know how many solar panels are required to produce 2,000 kWh per month and how much they cost. In the middle of your solar journey, you must decide how to pick the best solar provider in only Six simple steps.
Step#1 Credentials: Check the credentials of the solar company, The right solar company must have all the credentials required for installing solar systems.
Organizations such as the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) issue industry-standard credentials, which are commonly regarded as the gold standard among renewable energy system installers.
Make certain that the solar installer you select is licensed, bonded, and insured to install residential solar installations in your region. Also, don't forget to ask whether they will use subcontractors on your job and double-check their credentials.
Step#2 Customer service: A great solar installation requires great customer service. However, depending on only online reviews is not the right parameter to check customer service, because people tend to submit negative experiences more than positive ones.
Hence don’t hesitate to ask for one or two references in your or nearby area that can serve as a reference and if possible visit these sites.
Step#3 Credibility and Expertise: It must have expertise and credibility for installing solar equipment and be knowledgeable about all aspects of the process. A good rule of thumb is to sign with installers who have at least three years of experience.
A good rule of thumb is to sign with installers who have at least three years of experience.
Step#4 Addressing Roof Conditions: When you hire a solar contractor, one of the first things they should do is inspect your roof. Inquire with your installer whether they recommend roof repair before installation. Also, make sure you understand who is responsible for any roof damage or leaks that may occur.
Step#5 Warranties: Before, signing up the company understands how their warranties work, and what are the key points of their contracts. Both the workmanship and installed equipment have different warranty periods. Always, go with the solar company, which has transparencies with their warranty conditions.
Always, go with the solar company, which has transparencies with their warranty conditions.
Step#6 Never select a company only on price: A low-quality solar panel and installation material can make a huge difference. Always choose a solar company based on feedback and reviews, if a solar company doesn’t have many or any references but quotes are very low, just strikeout them out from your list.
If possible, visit their installed solar system (one old and one newly installed) and talk with the property owner. This will help you to understand their work finishing and how solar makes a change in people's lives.
With big electricity bills, comes big size solar system too. Moreover, the big-size solar system needs higher expertise too, CONTACT US, and our best-in-class team will help you to go solar.
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