The number of peak sun hours you get per day increases the closer you are to the equator and typically during the summer months. When I do that, I see that Houston gets an average of 4.672 peak sun hours per day. Using the example below, let's see how you can use peak sun hours to calculate how much electricity you need your solar panel system to create: Your solar panels need the direct sunlight of peak sun hours to generate the maximum electricity possible for your home. Peak sun hours differ from hours of daylight; the peak sun hour actually describes the. You can view this data on thedetailed irradiance mapsfor the United States created by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. However, the availability of terrific solar incentives means that even with less energy production, the average solar payback period for homeowners there is just 2.8-3.4 years - a level of return thats hard to beat. Just a small amount of shade on a solar panel can affect its power output. However, even if you get fewer peak sun hours, solar might still be worth it for you. If you know what angle your solar panels will be tilted at, you can enter a solar panel tilt angle (in degrees from horizontal). Email us at [emailprotected] and give us the location of your solar project. Here is a peak sun hours map created by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Youll notice the maps legend is in kWh/m2/day. While a solar professional can help you determine the best placement for your panels, you can plot a sun chart or buy or rent a solar pathfinder to determine how much sun your solar panels are likely to receive on a typical day. They will likely produce excess electricity at this time. Its the best sale of the year! The table below shows the peak sun hours by state across the country. Get started today with a freeSolar Savings Estimate, and we'll do everything we can to make sure you take advantage of peak sun hours with a top-of-the-line solar power system. To illustrate, lets go back to the Phoenix example. If your solar panels are creating more electricity than youre using, you can benefit from net metering. 4BB poly solar cell, 18.2-18.6 efficiency, 150k pcs stock 19.8% Efficiency Mono Solar Cell. Call during office hours:9:00 AM - 5:00 PM PST. But why then do you need to remember that peak sun hours vary if a solar panel system can still create power with any amount of sunlight? Knowing the yearly and seasonal average peak sun-hours in your area is a helpful tool for deciding whether or not solar panels are a worthwhile investment for your home or business. Optional: If left blank, well use a default value of 180 (south-facing) for locations in the northern hemisphere and 0 (north-facing) for locations in the southern hemisphere. Company News. Is it better to lease or buy solar panels? A peak sun hour is defined as one hour in which the intensity of sunlight (solar irradiance) averages 1,000 watts per square meter. Recall that 1 peak sun hour is equal to 1 kWh/m2, meaning these values are numerically identical. Solar panels need direct sunlight in order to produce the maximum solar output. To calculate your peak sun hours for your location, use the PV Watts calculator. Solar panels which are typically made of crystalline silicon and use a system of lenses or mirrors to maximize the light that reaches them create an electric current when exposed to sunlight, which is then used to produce electricity. As energy costs continue to rise, more and more people are looking to solar power as a more efficient option for both their homes and businesses. Our solar professionals can help you determine the best placement for your panels. If you are trying to determine whether or not solar power is the best option for your home or business, its important to understand how much sun solar panels need in order to operate effectively, what peak sun-hours are, and what you can do to get the most out of the solar power available to you. While your panels may receive an average 7 hours of daylight per day, the average peak sun-hours may actually be closer to 3 or 4. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For example, if you live in Anaheim, CA and your zip code is 92804, youd type 92804 into the box. It receives less than four peak sun hours per day for half the year. But, when you take into account the entire state, its sunny Arizona that has the highest average peak sun hours. . To help you decipher what peak sunlight hours mean to solar installation, think of them as those weather insights you rely on to choose and plan your next trip. That amount of sunlight 1000 W/m over an hour also happens to be the exact amount of sunlight used to test and rate solar panels in the lab. Copyright 2022 Footprint Hero LLC. In other words, if your location receives 7 kWh/m of solar radiation over the course of one day, then you get 7 peak sun hours. In other words, before system losses, during a peak sun hour you can expect a 300-watt solar panel to produce roughly 300 watthours of electricity, and a 6 kilowatt system to produce roughly 6 kilowatthours of electricity. In the first box, enter a location such as your address, city, or zip code. You can also use that information to develop a system that will yield extra electricity for storage, future growth, and net metering. Your email address will not be published. I was surprised to learn that the places in the US with the most peak sun hours are in Hawaii. Other factors besides average daily peak sun hours impact your solar panel system energy production capacity, including: If you talk to the solar experts at Palmetto, you can be sure all details will be considered when we design a solar power system for your home. To find your average daily peak sun hours, change the results from Per year to Per day. New York is an excellent example. Total solar irradiation over the day = Total area under the solar irradiation curve = Total area of the peak sun hours box. States in the southwest - where climate conditions create many cloud-free days - experience more peak sun hours than locations further south, such as Florida. For Example (Figure 2): Daily solar radiation of January in Casablanca,Morocco is 3.04kWh/m2/d, then we can get equivalent Peak Sun Hours by dividing Daily solar radiationby 1000W/m, which means radiation lasts 3.04 hours at 1000W/mdensity, then Peak Sun Hour is 3.04 hours for January. Use our peak sun hours map to find out your average sun peak hours to determine if you can make the most of the solar power available to you. Weather is also a factor. This especially comes in handy regarding the extra energy you might be storing from those peak sun hours. to find out your average sun peak hours to determine if you can make the most of the solar power available to you. If you want to calculate the peak sun hours of your roof on your own, then use the PVWatts calculator. What are peak sun hour numbers for your state? The states with some of the least peak sun hours are Alaska, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Washington. Optional: If left blank, well use a default value of 0 (horizontal). You can use the peak sun hours figure for a location to calculate total solar system output over a year. Check out this explainer. . (In fact, it is the data source for our peak sun hours calculator.). The National Renewable Energy Laboratorys PVWatts Calculator is an excellent tool for estimating how much solar energy your solar panels will produce. Locations with peak sun hours of four or more are generally considered suitable for going solar. Solar power is created through the harnessing of energy from the sun. In those places, the sunlight isnt as strong by the time it reaches your solar panels, which results in lower peak sun hours. The amount of solar radiation, or insolation, delivered by the sun varies throughout the day, based on the suns position in the sky, clouds, and other atmospheric conditions. Understand community solar, community choice aggregation, and green energy plans, including the pros and cons of how people can use them for solar power. Talk to Palmetto today to learn more about how your home can best utilize peak sun hours. Then input Latitude and Longitude data of your location (Figure 1), click Submitbutton to get result. ), On the System Info page, enter the details of your solar power system then click Go to PVWatts results. Average peak sun hours vary greatly across the country; how much sunlight intensity you get in your stateor even the given sun hours per day by zip codecan make a dramatic difference and directly impactthe effectiveness of going solar. This is the number of total peak sun hours your location gets per year. Our solar professionals can help you determine the best placement for your panels. If youre putting panels on your house, your azimuth angle is limited to whichever direction your roof faces. Peak sun hours are not the hours between sunrise and sunset. This map shows annual average daily peak sun hours (i.e. You may have heard that some hours of sunlight are better or more effective than others, that sunlight quality varies from one area to another, or that the energy-generating potential of sunlight changes from state to state. Data source: PVEducation.org, Chicago, located at a more northerly latitude, receives less sunlight, especially during winter. It can also help you understand how solar will be a worthy investment. Solar panels need direct sunlight to produce the maximum solar output. With an intuitive user dashboard and one-click customer support, its easy to track your goals and boost your results. You can also call us at 1-800-472-1142. Email us at, Monocrystalline vs. Polycrystalline Solar Panels, SolarEdge 3-Phase String Inverters & Optimizers, How to Find the Optimal Tilt Angle For Your Panels. What are the pros and cons of solar energy? But what exactly does the term mean? As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Solar panels are only likely to receive around that much sunlight when facing directly towards the sun when the sun is at its strongest, at midday. They also allow you to compare sunlight availability between locations. The table below details the average peak sun hours for each of the 50 states. If it did, click Go to system info. A peak sun hour represents a lot of sunlight. Now that you know what peak sunlight hours are and why they should matter to you, let's learn how to get the most out of them, especially when the sun is strongest. You could get a rough estimate by multiplying the number of peak sun hours by the rated output of the solar array: So in an idealized scenario, your 5 kW solar array would output 29 kWh per day. What are peak sun hour numbers like in your state? One peak sun hour is when the sun's intensity reaches an average of 1,000 watts of photovoltaic power per square meter. Solar panels are usually rated at an input rating of 1,000 W/m2 (1 kW/m2), so during a peak sun hour youd expect a 1 kW solar array to output 1 kWh of electricity before taking into account system losses and other environmental variables such as ambient temperature. And most importantly, what are the peak sun hours for the roof of your specific home? Here is a list of the average peak sun hours per day for 50 of the most populated zip codes in the US: Note: The peak sun hour values in this table were all calculated using a tilt angle of 0 (horizontal) and an azimuth angle of 180 (south-facing). Of course, its not just about latitude; weather patterns play a key role in determining peak sun hours, as well. Even on a cloudy day, they will still generate some electricity. Winter figures for daily solar gain may be from 25% to 50% less than these average figures. Its a solar treasure trove. An hour in the morning that receives an average of 500 W/m of sunlight is equal to 0.5 peak sun hours. In the United States, any place that gets 4 peak sun hours or more is considered a good location to produce useful amounts of solar energy. Even in cloudy weather, however, solar panels can absorb solar energy to produce power, though it will be at a significantly reduced rate compared to sunny days usually between 25 and 40%. Installing a solar battery system can ensure you can use all the energy you generated. There are only three months - November through January - where it receives less than four peak sun hours per day on average. In this example youd select 92804 Anaheim, CA, USA. The peak sun hours' value for one part of your roof may be substantially different from the peak sun hours on another section of your roof. Lets say your sunniest roof faces southeast (135 clockwise from north). On the Solar Resource Data page, scroll down to the map to confirm that the calculator found the right location. 2012 - 2022 solarreviews.com. These factors can affect the number of peak sun hours your panels get. This next part is just for the solar nerds out there: When sizing a solar power system, peak sun hours should be calculated using Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI), or Global Tilted Irradiance (GTI) at the tilt angle of the solar panels. What is your average electric bill per month? That's because regions closer to the equator receive more direct sunlight. If you're thinking about getting solar panels for your home, you are probably wondering whether or not you receive enough sunlight where you live. Find out which local, state, and utility solar incentives are available in your area here. Peak sun hours also vary depending on where your solar panels are placed. Leverage net metering. Knowing the average peak sun hours where you live is the one of the best ways to determine if you should go the solar route. Palmetto is not responsible for any errors or omissions, for the results obtained from the use of this information, or for the opinions expressed in this article, as they do not necessarily reflect the view of Palmetto. The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only and is not intended to be used as a basis for making business, legal, financial, or any other decisions. On a more micro level - for instance your roof - orientation (direction), tilt (azimuth), and shading all have an impact. Peak sun hours differ from hours of daylight; the peak sun hour actually describes theintensityof sunlight in a specific area, defined as an hour of sunlight that reaches an average of 1,000 watts of power per square meter (around 10.5 feet). The Global Solar Atlas is an interactive and searchable map that gives you free solar data for almost every spot on the globe. All Rights Reserved. (The values that affect peak sun hours are array type, tilt, and azimuth.). The amount of peak sun hours your location gets is a major factor in determining whether or not solar panels will be worth it for you. To create sustainable energy and green life environment is Taipo's obligation. The calculator assumes you will be using a solar array with a fixed tilt and azimuth angle, rather than one with 1-axis or 2-axis solar tracking. Thats a lot of sun. A peak sun hour is defined as one hour in which the intensity of solar irradiance (sunlight) reaches an average of 1,000 watts (W) of energy per square meter (roughly 10.5 feet). Solar radiation peaks at solar noon, when the sun reaches the highest point in the sky. With many years of efforts, Taipo has accumulated rich experience in solar industry. The calculator does not take into account shading. Summer months and locations farther south will generally see more peak sun hours than wintry times and areas farther north. kWh/m/day) based on data from 1998-2016 compiled by the National Solar Radiation Database. Depending on your location, youll see a major difference in the average peak sunlight hours. All rights reserved. Conversely, during ideal conditions - midday during a clear, sunny day - you might actually receive more than 1000 W/m, say 1,100 W/m. The average solar panel is roughly between 15% and 20% efficient, with high-quality solar panels in some cases exceeding 22% efficiency. Note: This estimate is very rough and doesnt take into account factors such as shading and system losses due to things like ambient temperature and inverter inefficiencies. Instead, its a measure of the amount of time the suns rays are most powerful in a given area, which means its the amount of time you can maximize electricity generation with your solar panels. Palmetto Solar, LLC (Palmetto) makes every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this website has been obtained from reliable sources. Zeeshan is passionate about promoting renewable energy and tackling climate change. Equally, if you plan to benefit from net metering, you need to figure out your area's peak sun hours to know if you can generate excess electricity. You may have also heard that it's not just the total hours of sunlight, but the 'peak sunlight hours' where you live that really matters. Track system performance by day, week, or month. Put the meter in direct sunlight and wait for a reading. Knowing your region's average peak sun hours can be a useful gauge of your homes solar potential. As the U.S. covers a large geographic area as well as many different climate zones, we see large variations in peak sun hour numbers between states. If youre just trying to figure out solar system size and annual solar power generation - after all, thats what the peak sun hours number is used for - then you can simply use the SolarReviews calculator instead. Your email address will not be published. If you do enter a tilt angle, it uses the Global Tilted Irradiance at that angle. Lets say youre considering putting a 5 kW solar array on your roof, and you want to estimate how much energy it could produce. Most of the United States averages between 3 and 5 peak sun-hours, though many areas may experience less during the winter and more during the summer. On a macro level, latitude and climate can affect peak sun hours. A peak sun hour is 1000 W/m of sunlight over an hour. On the Results page, the peak sun hours for your location are listed in the Solar Radiation column. Conversely, peak sun hours dont occur during sunrise and sunset because the sun is positioned at a lower angle in relation to solar panels. Enter your address to select the best system for your home by monthly and 25-year savings. He has previously worked in the humanitarian sector for Doctors Without Borders and in communications and journalism. Solar panels which are typically made of crystalline silicon and use a system of lenses or mirrors to maximize the light that reaches them create an electric current when exposed to sunlight, which is then used to produce electricity. You will need to enter your roof measurements, including the azimuth and tilt, based on which it will give you figures for average solar radiation by month. Well answer all these questions in this blog. Even in cloudy weather, however, solar panels can absorb solar energy to produce power, though it will be at a significantly reduced rate compared to sunny days usually between 25 and 40%. According to the Atlas, the entire state has an average of nearly 5.7 peak sun hours per day. Ill run through 3 tools you can use to calculate peak sun hours: Scroll up to our sun hours calculator at the top of this page. For example, if you live in Houston, TX, you can search Houston in the search bar and select Houston, Texas, United States of America from the dropdown results. These figures are based on the yearly average; consequently, systems based on these figures will provide more power in summer and less in winter. The short answer is As much as they can get. Solar panels are designed to generate electricity from sunlight. In this example, I can see that Houston gets 1,705.4 peak sun hours per year. Lets see how seasonal and latitudinal variations play out in two different cities - one southern one (Albuquerque, NM) and one northern one (Chicago, IL). To maximize the amount of sunlight your panels receive, they should face south and be installed in an area where they will not be shaded by trees or other nearby buildings during the majority of daylight hours. Use a cost calculator to find out how much you could save by switching to solar. Tip: Locate Optimum tilt of PV modules in the Site Info section to find an estimate of your ideal solar panel tilt angle (PV modules is another way of saying solar panels). Then we can express this value in peak sun hours. The daily averages are given for each month and for the entire year. As you can see, there are states with impressive peak sun numbers and those with scant peak sun hours. While the amount of sunlight your panels receive is important, a more accurate representation of the amount of energy your panels can produce is peak sun-hours. It allows you to precisely measure the amount of irradiance (sunlight) that will hit solar panels installed in a given location. Your solar panels will reach their maximum effectiveness when the sun's intensity is highest. Often, the number of peak sunlight hours increases the closer you are to the equator and generally during the summer months. I would insert the word angle and consider removing the word closer. As the image shows, adding up the total solar irradiance for a given location gives you the total peak sun hours value. Your solar panel cells are connected in a series string, meaning that any cell thats affected by shade can weaken the other cell panels, reducing the overall power level. you typically get in your geographic area to give you an accurate estimate of the production of your system. Some spots in Hawaii get upwards of 6.6 peak sun hours per day on average. Are you looking for a commercial or residential solar solution? Our team of solar specialists will answer your questions and help you make the right solar choices for your needs. The easiest way is visit NASAs website http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/sse/retscreen.cgi?email=rets@nrcan.gc.ca. The state only receives an average of 3.0-3.5 peak sun hours per day. And it comes as no surprise that Alaska is the state with the fewest peak sun hours. How many solar panels do I need to maximize savings? A peak sun-hour, specifically, is an hour during which the intensity of sunlight is 1,000 watts per square meter. Get a quote today by calling the number below or let us get in-touch with you by filling out the form below. For those of you who know a bit about electricity, youll recall this is equal to 1,000 watt hours of sunlight per square meter. Release2017/08/23 The calculator will calculate the annual and monthly averages for your location: If your tilt and azimuth angles are flexible, experiment with different angles to find the combo that results in the greatest number of peak sunlight hours. And because 1,000 watts is equal to 1 kilowatt, we can also write it as: Using historical data, we can estimate the amount of sunlight we expect a location to receive per day. The states with the highest average peak sun hours are Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and California. On top of the economic benefits of solar power, solar energy produces no pollution and has no negative environmental effects, making it an attractive option for those concerned about the environmental effects of traditional energy production as well. For example, if youre putting solar panels on your roof and you know your roof angle is 30, youd enter 30. My current obsession is DIY solar power projects, which I've been building since 2020. Save between $1,000 $5,000 depending on the size of your system - Click here. It just means that a home in Massachusetts that uses 25,000 kWh a year will need more solar panels in their rooftop array to generate that much electricity than a home in Arizona with the same amount of annual usage. Although your panels may get an average of 7 hours of daylight a day, the averagepeak sun hoursare generally around 4 or 5. No worries, we can simply express these amounts in terms of peak sun hours. Average peak sun hours vary greatly across the country; how much sunlight intensity you get in your stateor even the given. On the other hand, in latitudes farther north, when the sun is closer to the horizon, the sunlight is filtered through more layers of the atmosphere.