In recent years, the greenhouse effect has intensified and summer temperatures have gradually risen. Air conditioners have become a necessity for us to live in the summer, but the horrible power consumption of air conditioners has also deterred many of us. Long-term use of air conditioning will undoubtedly greatly increase our electricity bill.
So is there a way to help us save money and enjoy air conditioning at the same time? Yes, there is, and that is by utilizing solar energy, which is a green and clean energy source that is free and nearly unlimited. Solar panels are installed and the electricity converted daily by the solar panels is utilized to power the air conditioner. So how many solar panels are needed to run an air conditioner?
What factors are associated with the number of solar panels needed to run an air conditioner?
The number of solar panels needed to run an air conditioner is mainly related to the energy yield of the solar panels and the energy consumption of the air conditioner.
1. The energy yield of the solar panels. This mainly depends on how many watts of solar panels you have purchased. For example, you purchase a 100w solar panel. This means that this solar panel will be able to produce 100wh of energy per hour in good light conditions, and the ideal amount of time to produce electricity is about 4 hours per day. By analogy, you can roughly judge how much electricity your solar power system can generate in a day.
2. Energy consumption of air conditioners. The energy consumption of each type of air conditioner varies. Different air conditioners have different power requirements, and we can usually learn about this in the manual. We also need to understand the two units that determine the cooling capacity of an air conditioner, the ton and the British Thermal Unit (BTU), which is equivalent to the wattage requirement. 1 ton of cooling capacity is usually equivalent to 12,000 BTU/h of cooling capacity. 10,000 BTU/h of energy is equivalent to approximately 2.93 kWh.
Common types of air conditioners and the wattage required
1. large central air conditioners. 14,000 BTU central air conditioners are higher power consuming air conditioners, using about 4 kWh of electricity per hour. In the summer, a large central air conditioner is on for an average of 8 hours a day, consuming 32 kWh of electricity per day. Common solar panels are between 300w and 700w. As an example, assume a 550w solar panel with 4 hours of peak sunlight. 550w solar panels generate 2.2 kWh of electricity per day. At least 15 500w solar panels are needed to generate enough electricity to supply the consumption of a large central air conditioner.
2. Medium room air conditioner. 5000 BTU medium room air conditioner consumes about 1.5 kWh of electricity per hour. Used for about 8 hours a day, it consumes 12 kWh of electricity per day. A 550W solar panel, for example, can generate 2.2 kWh of electricity per day. You will need at least 6 pieces of 500W solar panels to supply the consumption of a medium-sized room air conditioner.
3. Home lightweight air conditioner. 2000 BTU home lightweight air conditioner consumes the least amount of electricity, only consuming about 0.5 kWh of electricity per hour. Used for about 8 hours a day, it consumes 4 kWh of electricity per day. With a 550w solar panel, for example, generating 2.2 kWh of electricity per day, you would need at least 2 units 500w solar panels to supply the light air conditioner’s consumption.
The output of a solar panel is usually measured in peak watts, indicating the maximum output of the solar panel under ideal conditions. However, in reality, due to various factors, the output of solar panels cannot be maintained at the maximum level all the time.
In addition to this, we also need the power of the solar panel bank to be able to meet the starting power of the air conditioner, which is much greater than the power of continuous operation. So we need to have more solar panels according to the situation.
Factors affecting the output of solar panels
1. Weather conditions. The length of light is the main factor that determines the power output of solar panels. There is no doubt that more electricity can be generated in areas with sufficient light and less cloudy days. According to statistics, the ideal time to generate electricity is about 4 hours per day on average.
2. Shading. If your solar power system is shaded, even if one solar panel is shaded, your power generation efficiency will be greatly reduced. So it is best to install your solar power system in an open, unshaded area.
3.Temperature. Temperature is also an important factor that affects the performance of solar panels. In the high temperature state, the power generation efficiency of solar panels will be greatly reduced. So the solar power system should have enough cooling space to reduce the temperature.
4. Installation angle. The installation angle is also a factor that affects the output of solar panels. In the southern hemisphere or northern hemisphere, the dimension in which it is located will affect the optimal tilt angle.
Benefits of using solar power systems to power air conditioners
1. Saving on electricity bills. Using air conditioners to cool down is the most common behaviour during hot summer days. Using solar power system to power air conditioners can effectively save electricity bills.
2. Protect the environment. Most of the electricity from the grid is generated using thermal power generation, which requires the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, generating atmospheric pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and dust, and also releasing carbon dioxide to aggravate the greenhouse effect. Solar energy is a green and clean energy source, using it to power air conditioners can effectively reduce the carbon footprint.
3. Energy independence. Utilizing solar power systems to power air conditioners can reduce dependence on the power grid and avoid the adverse effects of grid outages.
Conclusion
The exact number of solar panels needed depends on the power of the solar panels and the power rating of the air conditioner. You should have learned how to calculate the amount of solar panels you need from the above. Remember to add some extra solar panels on top of the calculated result to act as an insurance. I hope my article can help you.
