An average Connecticut household requires a 5 kW solar installation to meet its day-to-day energy requirements. In fact, this is the average size solar installation for the entire US. A 5kW system may not be sufficient for some households in the US, but it is more than sufficient for most of them.
Although an efficient solar panel system is critical for power generation, technology is not the only factor affecting the efficiency of your panels. There are many other factors at play.
Bad weather, for instance, can prevent your solar panels from receiving optimum light for energy production. Rain, snow, hurricanes, and a generally cloudy environment are not conducive to solar energy production. Thankfully, Connecticut enjoys clear, blue skies for the better part of the year. So, Connecticut residents need not bother about the weather affecting the power generation efficiency of their solar panels.
However, one other factor that plays a huge role in solar energy generation efficiency – location.
Geography
Depending on where you live, your 5 kW solar installation may produce anywhere between 15 kWh to 27 kWh of energy each day. That’s a wide range of power output, right?
This wide gap in power generation is a product of geography, roof pitch, and shading. Different cities across the US receive different amounts of sunlight depending on their proximity to the equator. Las Vegas, for instance, receives lots of sunshine. Therefore, a 5 kW solar installation in Vegas produces as much as 26.8 kWh of energy in a single day on average.
On the other hand, Connecticut is far away from the equator, and therefore, solar systems in the state manage to churn out roughly 17.1 kWh of energy on an average day.
The bulk of this energy will be generated between 10 am to 2 pm every day when the sun is directly above.
Is 17.1 kWh of Energy Sufficient for an Average Connecticut Household’s Daily Power Needs?
Although 17.1 kWh of energy production in Connecticut may sound puny compared to how much energy solar panels can produce in other states, most homes require only 10 kWh of energy per day.
Here are the power requirements of standard home appliances:
- Washing Machine: 2 kWh
- Hot Water Heaters: 4 kWh
- Oven / Cooktop: 2.4 kWh to 4.8 kWh
- Refrigerator: 1 kWh to 2 kWh
These numbers are calculated based on some usage assumptions, such as 1-2 hours of usage for the oven, which is true for most households.
As you can see, a 5 kW solar installation easily meets the daily power needs of your common appliances. The most energy-intensive appliance you can use in your home is an air conditioner. They’ll suck the life out of your solar panels. They consume 3-5kW of power per hour. So, run them for 4 hours, and you will have consumed as much as 20 kWh of power.
If you intend to run AC on solar power go for a bigger solar installation. Most roofs in CT will allow for a bigger system!
Contact Green Power Energy for more information.
