Solar Panel Sunlight Hours

Will have practically the same total daylight some states may only average two peak sun hours per day while others will average as many as seven.

Solar panel sunlight hours.

When planning and trying to understand what impact solar panels can have on your electricity bill it helps to use an average number. The more peak sun hours a solar panel gets the more electricity it produces. This number obviously changes if you were to drill down and examine the peak sunlight hours on a daily basis because of the number of factors that can affect a solar panels ability. While your panels may receive an average 7 hours of daylight per day the average peak sun hoursmay actually be closer to 3 or 4.

Geography solar energy increases near the equator as it is closer to the sun. Using averages from a fixed solar panel there are 4 13 hours of peak sun light across the state of virginia. Using a yearly average there are 5 38 daily peak sun hours across the state of california. An important clarification to make with the term sun hour is that it does not refer to merely hours of daylight.

States like californiaor floridacan expect more clear and sunny days. In an ideal scenario for solar panels would receive direct sunlight 24 hours a day every day. If you know the average daily peak sun hours for your location you can calculate the kwh your solar panels will make on a daily monthly and yearly basis. Heat isn t a factor in how much electricity pv solar panels can generate either so a cool spring day can be as productive if not more than a hot summer day.

On average the state of idaho receives 4 92 daily peak sun hours. Solar radiation peaks at solar noon when the sun reaches the highest point in the sky. While many areas of the u s. Because of this you should look at average of peak hours of sunlight per day which are the most ideal sunlight hours of solar insolation.

Putting it all together. More information for cities in florida. A peak sun hour is the equivalent of the sun shining at an intensity for 1 000 kw per square meter for one hour expressed as 1 kwh m. What is a peak sun hour.

Taking the average daily sun light hours works well for looking at long term calculations in your area. Weather is also a factor. The number of peak sun hours you get per day increases the closer you are to the equator and typically during the summer months. Unfortunately the sun does not stay at one spot in the sky clouds do show up every now and then and then there is the whole sunrise and sunset thing we can t avoid.

Throughout the year the actual daily sunlight hours will fluctuate quite a bit based on weather clouds and a number of issues and outside variables. Having at least 4 hours of typical peak sunlight is best for solar panels. Florida receives an average of 5 67 peak sun hours a day on a fixed solar panel. A fixed tilt solar panel does not change angles to adjust with the sun so looking at the average peak sun hours using a fixed tilt panel can set a good baseline for calculations.

This number is calculated for a fixed solar panel. There certainly is a trend. Although your panels may get an average of 7 hours of daylight a day the average peak sun hours are generally around 4 or 5.