Investing in a 10 kW solar system will give you a fixed return of 10 to 12.5% per annum in the USA with ZERO risk also it protects you from higher bills in the years ahead. However, before going solar you need to be 100% sure about load load-bearing capability of your rooftop. Therefore, be 100% sure and take a FREE solar survey now.
Now, the cost, as well as the power generation capability of a 10 kW solar system, depends upon some factors, like the orientation of the rooftop, peak sun hours in your state, and the complexity of your rooftop. However, a 10kW solar system can generate more than the average power demand per house in the USA.
How much power does a 10 kW solar system produce?
A 10 kW solar system can produce 1,350 kWh per month (45 kWh per day) in US regions with peak sunlight hours between 4.5 and 5. Conversely, in areas with peak sun hours between 3.5 and 4, a 10kW solar setup might yield 840kWh per month (28kWh per day). Receive a Complimentary Solar Assessment to assess your rooftop's actual solar potential.
Here peak sun hours differ from daylight hours. Peak sun hours are defined as the time of day when the intensity of sunshine is greatest. In other words, most electricity is generated by solar panels during peak sun hours. Refer below map showing the peak sun hours per day in different states of the US.
Now, for ease of your understanding, we have prepared a map for your quick reference that illustrates how much electricity a 1 kW solar system may produce each day in various US states. >> Refer to the below map.
From the above map, you can calculate how much power a 10kW solar power will generate in your state, or you can do reverse calculations to find out how much solar you need to generate any specific amount of power.
Reverse Calculation: Let's say, you have a monthly electricity bill of 2500kWh and you are living in Texas, where one kW of solar system can generate 4.2kWh per day. Hence, you will require will be equal to 2500 divided by 30 divided by 4.2, which is equal to 19.8. You will thus need a 20kW solar system.
Factors affecting the power generation of the solar system:
Furthermore, the ability to generate power from solar panels is affected by a variety of additional factors, some of which may also result in a minor loss in the power generation of a solar system. A brief overview of these additional aspects is provided below.
The Direction of Your Roof Slope: In the United States a south-facing solar panel, generates the highest amount of power. This is because the United States is located in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth, and the SUN is always in the southern portion of the sky in the Northern Hemisphere.
Hence installing solar panels on the south-facing slope of your rooftop will generate the highest amount of power.
Installing solar panels on the south-facing slope of your rooftop will generate the highest amount of power.
Furthermore, if you do not have a south-facing rooftop that does not mean that you cannot install solar panels, but that means you will need a slightly higher size of the solar system. However, you need to take a solar survey to find the correct number of solar panels you need.
Shading: Solar panels (or solar cells) that got less sunlight than the others operated as loads, reducing current, output, and efficiency. Determining a shadow-free area on the rooftop is, therefore, necessary before installations.
However, if your rooftop (or part of the rooftop) has some shadow for a short period, then you do not need to worry, you can install solar panels there too.
Roof Angle: The power generating capacity of solar power plants is also impacted by the rooftop inclination angle. Solar systems installed on rooftops with an inclination of 20 to 30 degrees produce less electricity than those with a larger incline angle.
Again, a higher inclination does not exclude the use of solar power, but it does necessitate a larger solar system, the size of which can only be determined by conducting a solar survey.
Dirt: The capacity of solar panels to produce energy is reduced when dusty particles build up on them, which obstruct sunlight. Although you must clean it more regularly, living in a duty neighborhood does not exclude you from using solar power
When all of these elements are taken into account, it is difficult to predict the precise amount of electricity a solar system may generate on a certain rooftop without a solar survey.
Solar panels for a 10kW solar system
Going with higher-rated solar panels is always better than going with a lower-rated one. A 400-watt solar panel is 28% bigger than and 24% heavier than a 250-watt solar panel but it generates 60% more power.
Hence, going with a 400-watt solar panel instead of 250-watt will save 60% of space on your rooftop but with a 24% high per-square-foot load. Remember, in all cases going with 60% less space is always a good investment than a 24% lesser load. However, to be 100% sure you will need a solar survey to check how much load your rooftop can take.
Now, here is some interesting information on the solar panel size: In every quarter, the rated power of a single solar panel module increases with a slight increase in its dimensions. However, the per-watt cost of the highest-rated single solar module is also the highest. Hence, to find the most optimized price for your solar system you may need to go with a slightly smaller size solar panel which has been available in the market since last year. In 2023, 380-watt & 400-watt solar panels are most suitable for rooftop installation.
Type of solar panel: Solar panels are classified into monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline solar panels are more expensive than polycrystalline panels. Monocrystalline, on the other hand, is more efficient and smaller. Hence, monocrystalline panels are preferable for USA rooftops due to less space and high efficiency.
How many solar panels are for a 10 kW system?
You will need 25 numbers of 400-watt or 26 numbers of 380-watt solar panels for a 10 kW solar power system.
Rooftop area required for the installation of 20kW solar system:
25 numbers of 400-watt solar panels will cover (25x22.7=) 567.5 square feet of rooftop space. However, you cannot cover the whole rooftop with solar panels you need space on a rooftop for the cleaning of solar panels, as per the thump rule you can cover 40 % to 50% of your rooftop with solar panels. Hence, for installing 10 kW of solar system you require 1500 square feet of house.
However, if you do not have that much space then going with a smaller size solar system will also, help you to overcome high utility bills.
Also, Read | Solar for 2,000kWh per month in the USA
Cost for 10 kW solar system in the USA.
After the detection of the 30% Federal Solar Tax Credit, the per watt price of solar systems in the USA ranges from $2.1 to $ 2.95 depending on the caliber of the tools used in installation and the labor force needed to install it. As a result, the cost of a solar system for a 10 kW solar system in the USA ranges from $21,000 to $29,500.
>> Get a FREE Solar Quote from Best Installers.
Federal Solar Tax Credit: The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), often known as the Federal Solar Tax Credit, is the best solar-related incentive available in the nation. 26% of the entire cost of your solar installation can be deducted from your federal taxes thanks to this incentive.
In addition to the aforementioned, you might also need to spend extra for the solar installation because there are a variety of variables that can affect how much a solar system costs, like the rooftop's accessibility and the battery backup. Some of the most important variables are listed below.
Factors affecting the cost of the solar system.
Rooftop type: Solar Installation cost for a flat rooftop is higher than inclined rooftop because a flat rooftop requires more structure and takes more time for installation than an inclined rooftop. However, installing on a rooftop with a higher angle of inclination needed a man-lifter crane, which raised the cost of installation.
Age of Rooftop: An old rooftop may require repairing before the installation of solar panels. Installing, solar panels on rooftops without inspection may lead to much higher repair costs.
Solar inverter type: For rooftop solar systems there are two types of solar inverters are used, that is micro-inverters and string inverters. Micro-inverters are directly mounted on each solar panel, whereas string inverters are mounted in your houses and DC cables from all solar panels are connected to string inverters.
Going with a string inverter is cheap; however, the performance of micro inverters is very much better in terms of efficiency as well as in the expendability of the solar system. Furthermore, string inverters come with 5 years of warranty, whereas micro-inverters come with 25 years of warranty. Hence, in the long term, micro-inverters are more economical than string inverters.
Battery Backup: If you need a battery, backup with solar for backup power during a power outage then you will need to pay more for the same. The cost to pay for battery backup is subject to the size of the battery bank.
How to choose solar installation company.
Choosing a solar installer in a crowded marketplace is tricky and requires a lot of research. Here we will tell you how you can find the right solar company in 6 easy steps.
Step#1 Credentials: Always check the credentials of the solar company, a right solar company must have all the credentials required for installing solar systems.
Organizations such as the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) issue industry-standard credentials, which are commonly regarded as the gold standard among renewable energy system installers.
Make certain that the solar installer you select is licensed, bonded, and insured to install residential solar installations in your region. Also, don't forget to ask whether they will use subcontractors on your job and double-check their credentials.
Step#2 Customer service: A great solar installation requires great customer service.
However, depending on only online reviews is not the right parameter to check customer service, because people tend to submit negative experiences more than positive ones.
Hence don’t hesitate to ask for one or two references in your or nearby area that can serve as a reference and if possible visit these sites.
Step#3 Credibility and Expertise: It must have expertise and credibility for installing solar equipment and be knowledgeable about all aspects of the process. A good rule of thumb is to sign with installers who have at least three years of experience.
A good rule of thumb is to sign with installers who have at least three years of experience.
Step#4 Addressing Roof Conditions: When you hire a solar contractor, one of the first things they should do is inspect your roof. Inquire with your installer whether they recommend roof repair before installation. Also, make sure you understand who is responsible for any roof damage or leaks that may occur.
Step#5 Warranties: Before, signing up the company understands how their warranties work, and what the key points of their contracts are. Both the workmanship and installed equipment have different warranty periods. Always, go with the solar company, which has transparencies with their warranty conditions.
Always, go with the solar company, which has transparencies with their warranty conditions.
Step#6 Never select a company only on price: A low-quality solar panel and installation material can make a huge difference. Always choose a solar company based on feedback and reviews, if a solar company doesn’t have many or any references but quotes are very low, just strikeout them out from your list.
If possible, visit their installed solar system (one old and one newly installed) and talk with the property owner. This will help you to understand their work finishing and how solar makes a change in people's lives.
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