{"id":11187,"date":"2023-08-03T17:08:15","date_gmt":"2023-08-03T17:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/?p=11187"},"modified":"2023-08-03T17:19:16","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T17:19:16","slug":"how-do-you-calculate-the-number-of-panels-on-a-16-kw-solar-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/how-do-you-calculate-the-number-of-panels-on-a-16-kw-solar-system\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do You Calculate The Number of Panels on a 16 kW Solar System?"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s something exciting about putting a nice round number on the amount of solar panels you need. The number of kilowatts in a solar system doesn\u2019t mean much to most people, but the number of panels on a roof paints a vivid picture.<\/span><\/p>\n

16 kW is a rather large solar system, but entirely feasible for a household with high electricity consumption and an EV or two charging in the garage. And the more electricity you\u2019re using at home, the more you can save by going solar.<\/span><\/p>\n

So if you yourself find yourself looking for that sweet sixteen, here\u2019s how to find out how many panels you need,\u00a0 how much electricity you can expect them to produce, and a <\/span>ballpark cost for the solar panels and installation<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

How many panels are in a 16 kW system?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are typically 40 solar panels in a 16 kW solar system with a power rating of 400 Watts each. However, this number can vary depending between 35 and 50 on the power rating of each panel.<\/span><\/p>\n

To determine the number of panels in a <\/span>16 kW (kilowatt)<\/b> solar system, we need to consider the wattage rating of the individual solar panels.\u00a0 This \u201cnameplate\u201d rating signifies the maximum power the panel can produce in ideal conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Assuming each solar panel has a wattage rating of 400 watts (<\/span>by far the most popular power rating on the\u00a0 solar.com marketplace<\/span><\/a>), we can calculate the number of panels needed in a 16 kW (16,000 Watt) solar system as follows.<\/span><\/p>\n

System size (Watts) \/ panel rating (Watts) = Number of panels<\/b><\/p>\n

Using this equation, we find that it takes 40 solar panels with a rating of 400 Watts each to make up a 16 kW solar system.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Whether you are looking for a 16 kW system, or a 6 kW system you can apply the same method to determine the number of panels needed to meet your production needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/gs-injectable>\n

 <\/p>\n

How much electricity can a 16 kW solar system produce?<\/span><\/h2>\n

A 16 kW solar system can be expected to produce between 62-85 kWh per day in its first year, depending on how much sunlight it gets per day and energy lost during the conversion from DC to AC electricity.<\/span><\/p>\n

In northern states like New York that average ~4 peak sun hours per day, a 16 kW system would produce closer to 62 kWh per day in its first year (assuming 2% conversion loss). In California and sunny southern states with closer to 5.5 peak sun hours per day, production should be slightly over 85 kWh per day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Map<\/p>\n

To put that in perspective, running an average central air conditioning unit running nonstop for 24 straight hours would consume around 80 kWh, so 66-90 kWh is quite a bit of electricity per day.<\/span><\/p>\n

To calculate expected production, start by taking the system size (16 kW) and multiplying it by the average peak sun hours for your location (shown in the map above).<\/span><\/p>\n

16 kW \u00d7 4 hours per day = 64 kWh per day<\/b><\/p>\n

Then, subtract 2% of the total DC production to account for efficiency loss when converting to AC electricity that is used in your home.<\/span><\/p>\n

64 kWh – 1.28 kWh = 62.72 kWh per day<\/b><\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth noting that solar panels slowly decline in performance over time through a natural process called degradation. Most modern panels come with performance warranties that guarantee that they will be able to produce 85-92% of their original nameplate output after 25 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, your 16 kW solar panel system will produce slightly less energy each year, but it\u2019s normal and can be accounted for.<\/span><\/p>\n

How much does a 16 kW solar system cost?<\/span><\/h2>\n

A 16 kW solar system typically costs between $56,000 and $64,000 <\/span>before <\/span><\/i>incentives, depending on your location, installer, equipment, financing method, and complexity of the project. Claiming the 30% federal solar tax credit would reduce the net cost to between $39,000 and $45,000.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is that a lot of money? Yes. But does that mean a 16 kW solar system is expensive? Not compared to grid electricity. In fact, larger solar systems typically deliver greater overall savings because they come at a lower Price Per Watt (PPW) and offset more utility electricity costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say you live in New York and you use, on average, 63 kWh of electricity per day. The chart below shows the cumulative cost of buying a 16 kW solar system to produce that electricity versus purchasing that electricity from a utility provider.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Graph<\/p>\n

Over 20 years, we can expect a 16 kW system in New York to produce ~380,000 kWh of electricity. Purchasing that electricity from a utility at the state average rate would cost nearly $108,000, assuming average annual rate hikes of 3% per year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Factoring in <\/span>New York\u2019s monthly net metering fee<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n