If you are thinking about solar panels for your home, you may wonder whether you will be able to power your entire house with solar energy and stop paying electric bills. Let’s look at what is possible.

What is possible and what is practical

In theory, solar power can run your whole house; however, in real life, most homeowners find it difficult to install enough panels to cover all their energy needs. A typical home solar setup can power many things, such as your TV, refrigerator, and other appliances, but powering everything is challenging.

Many people find it easier to use less energy while adding solar panels to help with the costs. If you need solar panels Cheltenham, renewable energy specialists such as /gsmlimited.com/services/solar-panels/cheltenham can help.

What does ‘off-grid’ mean?

When people talk about going ‘off-grid’, they mean living without public utilities. This could mean no connection to public water, gas, or electricity. While some people who live in remote areas live like this, anyone can become more self-sufficient. Most home solar systems stay connected to the power grid but help you depend less on power companies. The benefits of this include dealing less with utility companies, reducing pollution, and helping you feel more connected to nature.

How much power can solar panels make?

Two main things affect how much electricity your solar panels produce:

1. How efficient the panels are.
2. How much sunlight there is each day.

A typical home system in the UK has 8 to 12 panels and produces around 2,450-3,000 kilowatt-hours per year, depending on where you live and how the panels are positioned.

When you make power v when you use it

The average UK home uses about 2,900 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. While this might make it seem as if solar could cover everything, there is a timing problem. Solar panels make most of their power at midday, but most homes use more energy in the morning and evening. Without batteries to store energy, you may still need power from the utility company at night.