Published on : 04 May 20203 min reading time

Technology is one of the things that is indispensable to everyone’s daily life right now. To be able to benefit from it, having electricity is essential. For this, many means have been invented to be able to generate enough power for everyone. Depending on where it comes from, it can have several characteristics. Solar panels have been popular for some time now. It is therefore very important to know how to calculate the production of electricity.

THE INSOLATION POWER

Calculating the electricity production for a photovoltaic source is not really easy. It is mainly a matter of estimation, because the power generated by this type of installation depends on several factors that come into play for the calculation. Among the most important is the insolation power. The sun is in fact the main source of energy that the panels will store and then distribute throughout the house. However, the amount of sunshine in a specific area is not stable. When the sun is stronger, the panels will be able to store more energy and convert it into electricity. In contrast, low insolation will mean limited production.

POSITION IN RELATION TO THE SUN

In order to have a real idea of the electricity production of one or more photovoltaic panels, it is very, very essential to orientate it properly. The optimal position depends on the geographical position of the house. In the majority of cases, for those in Europe, the panel should be oriented towards the South and tilted so as to obtain an angle of between 30 and 35° in general. This position is ideal to allow the panel to receive the sun’s rays. The yield is the factor that comes into play when calculating the electricity production. However, this is influenced by the position of the panel.

THE MAXIMUM POWER PRODUCED BY THE PANEL

A maximum power or “peak power” of a photovoltaic panel is the power it can produce under its most optimal conditions. This characteristic is usually supplied with the unit. The higher this factor is, the more likely the homeowner will be able to store electricity for their home. In the majority of cases, to make up for energy losses, homeowners choose to install several panels at the same time and thus obtain a more or less constant production. In order to have a more precise idea of the electricity production of a panel, it is enough to multiply the output of the panel with its peak power and the sunshine received by the latter. The result of this calculation will mainly give the total energy in a year produced by the panel. Then simply divide by 365 to estimate the daily energy produced in kWh.