RenewFarmEnergy l

Step-by-Step Sizing Guide

1. Determine Your Daily Energy Needs

Begin by calculating how much energy your farm uses in a day. Let’s say your operations require 7.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh) daily. This number is the starting point for sizing your solar system.

2. Understand Panel Output

Solar panels are rated by their wattage. (You can get this value typically at the back of your appliance, under the heading , “Maximum Power.” From the figure below, this is 560W.) For instance, if you choose a 300W panel and your location gets around 5 peak sunlight hours per day, you can estimate each panel’s daily output as follows:

• Calculation:
  300W × 5 hours = 1500 watt-hours (Wh)
  Convert to kilowatt-hours: 1500 Wh ÷ 1000 = 1.5 kWh per panel

3. Calculate the Number of Panels Needed

Divide your daily energy requirement by the energy produced by one panel:

• Calculation:
  7.5 kWh ÷ 1.5 kWh = 5 Panels

This means that with these parameters, you’d need approximately 5 panels to meet your daily energy demand. However, there are other factors including seasonal changes, panel orientation, and efficiency that affects the sizing.

Factors Affecting Solar Panel Sizing

When choosing the right solar panel size, the following key factors should be considered:

• Daily Energy Consumption:
  Your total kWh usage per day.
• Peak Sun Hours:
  The average number of effective sunlight hours in your location.
• Panel Wattage:
  The rated power output (e.g., 300W) of the panels you choose.
• System Efficiency Losses:
  Losses can occur from wiring, inverters, and shading. A good practice is to account for a 10–20% loss.
• Panel Orientation and Tilt:
  The angle and direction of the panels can significantly impact energy production.
• Future Expansion:
  If you plan to add more electrical loads in the future, consider sizing your system slightly larger.
• Battery Storage (if applicable):
  For off-grid systems, your battery capacity and charging needs can affect panel sizing.

Solar Panel Sizing Calculator

This calculator helps you to determine the size of the solar panels you should use based on daily energy requirements, rated solar panel wattage and peak sunlight hours:

How the Calculator Works

1. Daily Energy Requirement:
   Enter the amount of energy you need per day in kWh.
2. Panel Wattage:
   Input the wattage rating of your chosen solar panels.
3. Peak Sun Hours:
   Provide the average peak sunlight hours for your location.
4. Calculation:
   It determines the energy one panel produces (in kWh) and divides your daily requirement by this value. It then rounds up to ensure you have enough capacity.

This calculator is a simple yet effective tool to help you determine your solar panel size at a glance.