If you have been considering solar panels for your business site, this question must have crossed your mind: " How much energy does a commercial solar panel produce?” And rightly so, knowing your solar panels' energy output is important to measure their effectiveness and the potential savings on your energy bills. At Beat Energy™, we’re here to break down the factors influencing solar panel energy generation and help you understand what to expect.
Solar panels generate energy by converting sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic (PV) cells. The amount of energy your solar panels can produce depends on various factors, such as the type of panels, their efficiency, the location of your installation, and the amount of sunlight your area receives. If you are thinking about reducing your carbon footprint and saving on energy bills, then going solar is definitely worth considering. Just imagine the positive impact on the environment and your wallet.
While the older solar panels had an efficiency of about 6%, with rapid advancement in solar technologies, the modern-day models can reach between 15% and 25%. While this may seem like a small improvement, it translates into significant financial gains for businesses trying to cut down annual energy costs and save thousands of dollars.
With ongoing innovations, solar technology has reached an even higher efficiency rate in lab conditions. As a business owner, you can be confident that your smart solar panels are incredibly effective and will maintain their optimal capacity for almost 25-30 years. Even after that period, the panels degrade very slowly, making them a fantastic investment that will contribute to a more profitable and sustainable future.
Use this simple formula to estimate the energy output of your solar panels:
Number of panels x Power in watts x Average hours of direct sunlight = Energy Output (kWh)
This approach makes it easy to calculate energy production by week, month and year. For example, if you have 20 panels rated at 300 watts each, and your location receives an average of 6 sunlight hours per day, the energy output calculation for one year is:
20×300×6×365 = 13,140,000 kWh per year
However, real-world conditions can affect your solar panels' energy generation. Shading from trees and obstructions from nearby buildings can cast shadows on your panels, impacting and reducing efficiency. Weather conditions like cloudy and rainy days will limit the sunlight your panels receive and lower the energy output. Solar panels gradually lose efficiency over time but come with a warranty guaranteeing they will retain 80%-90% of their original efficiency even after 25 years.
To get the most out of your solar panels, consider the following tips:
At Beat Energy™, we are committed to helping you harness the sun's power to achieve energy independence and significant savings. Don't hesitate to reach out to our team of experts for any commercial solar system installation questions or assistance.
