When you’re shopping around for solar panels, you’ll find many different options available, and it can be difficult to know which one to choose. While you know the benefits of solar panels, from helping the environment to cutting your energy bills, you may be wondering what size you need and how much energy you’ll need to generate for your household. Here’s a quick guide to 4kW solar panels for those considering this option and figure out whether solar panels are worth it in 2019.
What size are 4kW panels?
Calculating the size of the solar panel you need is complex because you’ll need to use data such as your annual electricity usage, direction of your roof and slope angle and size. Many solar providers have a calculator to help you work this out. As a general guide, installing a 4kW solar panels system should provide electricity for a household of three to four people. That’s why it’s one of the more popular options for UK households with small families.
Physically, you’ll need between 21 to 28 m2 of roof space, depending on your roof’s angle and how it faces. If you’re unsure whether solar panels will fit, get a quote from solar panel specialists who can go through the requirements with you.
How much do these systems cost?
Solar panels have become cheaper in recent years, and cost around £1,250 per 1kw capacity. This means you can usually get a 4kW system for under £5,000, although it depends on a number of factors such as the number of companies offering these services in your area and whether they have any special offers available.
While the initial cost may seem a lot, you may be thinking ‘how much can a 4kW solar system save?’ Again, this depends on many different factors, such as how much you usually spend on electric and how expensive energy is in your area. However, on average, you can save just under £900 a year. This means that the panels will pay for themselves in a few years.
How much energy will my system generate?
If installed properly, your Solar PV should generate about 3,400kWh per year. This should be more than enough to run the average house; in fact, you could run the oven for over 1,400 hours and boil the kettle for over 1,800 hours for starters. Some factors that’ll affect how much energy is generated include:
- The size of your panels
- The panels’ position
- Your local climate
- How much daylight and cloud coverage occurs
It’s important to think about the cost of solar panels versus the savings, and it’s natural to be worried about spending a large amount on this sort of upgrade. However, a 4kW system could potentially generate enough electricity for your entire household, meaning you no longer need to rely on the electric grid. If you add a battery to store excess energy, then even at night and during the bleakest days, you’ll have a source of free energy generated from the sun. It’s no wonder why the popularity of solar panels has increased so much in recent years and why you’ll see them on so many householder’s roofs.