Recently I have switched to a 1500 kWh solar system and I found myself asking the same question that many homeowners do: “How many solar panels do I need for 1500 kWh per month?” After all, it’s important to know how many panels I would need to install in order to generate enough energy to power my home.
Before making this huge investment in a 1500 kWh solar system I did some research and spoke with several experts in the field. I learned that the number of panels I would need depends on a few different factors, including the amount of sunlight my area receives, the efficiency of the panels, and my home’s energy usage. However, this number can vary depending on factors such as weather patterns, shading, and the orientation of the panels. For example, if my area receives less sunlight, I may need more panels to generate the same amount of energy.
Number of solar hours in the cities in some of the few states of the US
Number of solar hours in cities in few state‘s is given below in the table:
| State | City | Solar Hours | kWh per 1kW |
| Alabama | Birmingham | 5.26 solar hours | 1,422 kWh per 1kW |
| Alabama | Huntsville | 5.08 solar hours | 1,418 kWh per 1kW |
| Alabama | Mobile | 5.49 solar hours | 1,540 kWh per 1kW |
| Alabama | Montgomery | 5.43 solar hours | 1,513 kWh per 1kW |
| Alaska | Anchorage | 3.40 solar hours | 1,053 kWh per 1kW |
| Arizona | Flagstaff | 6.21 solar hours | 1,695 kWh per 1kW |
| Arizona | Phoenix | 6.52 solar hours | 1,753 kWh per 1kW |
| Arizona | Tucson | 6.54 solar hours | 1,807 kWh per 1kW |
| Arkansas | Little Rock | 3.40 solar hours | 1,401 kWh per 1kW |
| California | Bakersfield | 6.16 solar hours | 1,714 kWh per 1kW |
| California | Fresno | 5.96 solar hours | 1,636 kWh per 1kW |
| California | Los Angeles | 6.13 solar hours | 1,708 kWh per 1kW |
| California | Modesto | 5.96 solar hours | 1,652 kWh per 1kW |
| California | Oakland | 5.62 solar hours | 1,598 kWh per 1kW |
| California | Oxnard | 6.04 solar hours | 1,702 kWh per 1kW |
| California | Riverside | 6.28 solar hours | 1,790 kWh per 1kW |
| California | Sacramento | 5.83 solar hours | 1,620 kWh per 1kW |
| California | Salinas | 5.61 solar hours | 1,598 kWh per 1kW |
| California | San Bernardino | 6.20 solar hours | 1,714 kWh per 1kW |
| California | San Diego | 5.70 solar hours | 1,627 kWh per 1kW |
| California | San Francisco | 5.56 solar hours | 1,593 kWh per 1kW |
| California | San Jose | 5.86 solar hours | 1,667 kWh per 1kW |
| Colorado | Colorado Springs | 5.72 solar hours | 1,614 kWh per 1kW |
| Colorado | Denver | 5.69 solar hours | 1,59 kWh per 1kW |
| Colorado | Fort Collins | 5.19 solar hours | 1,455 kWh per 1kW |
| Connecticut | Bridgeport | 4.63 solar hours | 1,307 kWh per 1kW |
| Connecticut | Hartford | 4.68 solar hours | 1,273 kWh per 1kW |
| Florida | Fort Lauderdale | 5.74 solar hours | 1,662 kWh per 1kW |
| Florida | Jacksonville | 5.52 solar hours | 1,478 kWh per 1kW |
| Florida | Miami | 5.77 solar hours | 1,623 kWh per 1kW |
| Florida | Orlando | 5.64 solar hours | 1,570 kWh per 1kW |
| Florida | Tallahassee | 5.41 solar hours | 1,446 kWh per 1kW |
The electricity output of popular solar panel brands
The table below shows the minimum, maximum, and average electricity output of popular solar panel brands in watts:
| Solar Panel Manufacturer | Minimum Output | Maximum Output | Average Output |
| Amerisolar | 240 W | 330 W | 285 W |
| Astronergy | 350 W | 370 W | 360 W |
| Axitec | 250 W | 385 W | 302 W |
| BenQ Solar (AUO) | 250 W | 295 W | 277 W |
| Boviet Solar | 320 W | 340 W | 330 W |
| Canadian Solar | 225 W | 410 W | 320 W |
| CentroSolar | 250 W | 320 W | 278 W |
| CertainTeed Solar | 70 W | 400 W | 308 W |
| ET Solar | 255 W | 370 W | 306 W |
| First Solar | 420 W | 460 W | 440 W |
| GCL | 310 W | 330 W | 320 W |
| Grape Solar | 160 W | 285 W | 237 W |
| Green Brilliance | 230 W | 300 W | 266 W |
| Hansol | 250 W | 360 W | 304 W |
| Hanwha | 365 W | 385 W | 375 W |
| Heliene | 250 W | 370 W | 306 W |
| JA Solar | 260 W | 410 W | 329 W |
| JinkoSolar | 315 W | 410 W | 367 W |
| Kyocera | 260 W | 330 W | 295 W |
| LG | 315 W | 415 W | 365 W |
| LONGi | 305 W | 455 W | 387 W |
| Mission Solar Energy | 300 W | 390 W | 334 W |
Factors that can influence how many solar panels you need
- Energy consumption
The total energy consumption determines the number of solar power needed to meet the electricity demand. If you need more electricity for usage, you will need more solar panels. So first understand how much electricity you need.
- Sunlight in your location
The number of sunlight hours in your location plays an important role in calculating the number of solar panels you need to install. For example, if your location receives more sunlight then you will need fewer solar panels. On the other hand, if your location receives less sunlight then you will need to install more solar panels. In the United States, the southwestern area receives the most sunlight and the northeast area receives the least sunlight.
- The efficiency of the solar panels
The efficiency of the solar panels and the type of solar technology you are using can also influence the amount of electricity generated by each panel. Make sure to use good quality solar panels that have good reviews and ratings.
- Power rating
The wattage or power rating of the solar panels is one of the most important factors that determine how many panels you need. Solar panels with higher wattage produce more electricity, which means you’ll need fewer panels to generate the same amount of energy as lower-wattage panels. For example, if you have a high-power rated panel of 370 watts, you’ll need fewer panels to generate the same amount of energy as if you had lower power-rated panels of 250 watts.
Step-by-step process for calculating the number of solar panels you need for 1500 kWh per month
- Determine your location’s average daily sunlight hours. Let’s assume it is 5 hours per day.
- Calculate your home energy consumption in a month. You can easily find this information on your electric bills. Then divide your monthly energy usage by the number of days in a month. For 1500 kWh per month, the daily energy usage is 1500 kWh / 30 days = 50 kWh per day.
- Calculate your daily energy production by multiplying the wattage of your solar panels by the number of sunlight hours you get per day to determine your daily energy production.
- Let’s say you’re using 370-watt solar panels.
Daily energy production = (number of panels) x (wattage per panel) x (average sunlight hours per day)
If you have 5 hours of sunlight per day, then your daily energy production would be:
Daily energy production = (number of panels) x 370 watts/panel x 5 hours/day. - Calculate the number of panels you need to generate 50 kWh per day and divide the daily energy production by the wattage per panel.
Number of panels = Daily energy production/wattage per panel
Number of panels = (50,000 watt-hours per day) / (370 watts per panel)
Number of panels = 135 panels (rounded up)
Therefore, you would need about 135 solar panels to produce 1500 kWh of electricity per month, assuming you have 5 hours of sunlight per day and you’re using 370-watt solar panels.
Conclusion
Now that you know the answer to how many solar panels do I need for 1500 kWh per month? It will be easy for you to decide on the buying decision. Make sure to do proper research before installing solar panels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average solar panel required?
The average solar panel required in the United States is 15 to 19.
What should be the size of the solar panel if I need to use 1500 kWh per month?
You will need a solar panel system that is able to generate around 1200 kWh per month if you want to use 1500 kWh per month.
What are the main factors that influence how many solar panels you need?
The amount of sunlight you receive in your area, the energy consumption per month, and the type of solar panels you opt for determine how many solar panels you need.
How to calculate the number of solar panels required?
Calculate the energy consumption of your home or business in a month.
The next step is to find out how much energy is produced by solar panels in the location you live in.
Analyze the size of your solar system you need and the number of solar panels.
Also consider the roof space needed to install the solar panel system.
