When deciding whether your house is a good candidate for solar panels, sunlight is the most important factor to consider. Solar panels work by turning sunlight into electricity, which means you need good sunlight access for home solar to be worth it.
Keep reading to find out exactly how much sun solar panels need and whether your house is a good fit for solar!
Solar panels don’t need direct sunlight to work—as long as they receive some amount of sunlight throughout the day, your solar panels will produce electricity. But for solar panels to be worth it, they need to produce more than just a little bit of power.
Ideally, you want your solar panels to receive at least four to five hours of direct sunlight per day. The sun’s rays are the most powerful and direct between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun is at its highest point, and this is when you want your solar panels to have direct sunlight access.
There are three main light-related factors that will impact your solar system’s output:
- Climate – The more sunlight your region receives, the better suited it is to solar panels. Unfortunately, you can’t change your local climate. But, here in San Antonio, we’re lucky to have an ideal climate for solar with over 250 sunny days a year!
- Daily weather – Even though we get a lot of sun in Texas, we still have cloudy days. Clouds block out the sun and your solar panels will produce less electricity when it’s overcast than they will on a bright, clear day.
- Shading – Shade has a huge impact on your home’s solar viability. The less shade your roof receives throughout the day, the better your solar panels will perform.
The first step in your solar installation is a free assessment with TXEN Solar, during which we will determine whether your roof gets enough sun for solar panels. Most Texas houses are good for solar and we can almost always find a solution that makes solar worth it. There are also steps we can take to improve your home’s solar performance if you don’t have ideal sunlight access.
- More panels – We can often make up for lost performance simply by installing a few extra solar panels.
- Reduce shading – Sometimes, obstacles like tree branches can be removed to minimize shading.
- Ground mounts – If your roof isn’t a good fit for solar panels, a ground-mounted system could be a better option. We may also be able to install solar panels on another structure, like a freestanding garage or shed, or install a solar carport.
- Battery storage – Solar batteries allow you to store the excess electricity your solar panels generate during the day so you can use it when you’re not receiving maximum sunlight. They can help you get more power out of your solar panel system.
TEXN Solar is a local, veteran-owned solar installer in San Antonio and we can help you find a solar solution that works for your home. We are a team of Texans helping Texans save money with solar and we will never push you into buying something that doesn’t make sense for your home. If your roof isn’t suitable for solar, we will be the first to tell you!
Texas Engineered Solar is a veteran-owned solar installer based right here in San Antonio. We are a team of Texans helping Texans take control of their own energy production. If you’re interested in solar panels for your home, we are here to help you get all the information you need to make an informed purchasing decision. We’re a small, owner-operated team and we do right by our customers every step of the way.
