How much energy will solar panels in Ottawa, Ontario Canada produce?

There are two types of solar panels: Polycrystalline, and Mono Crystalline. Monocrystalline panels are composed of a single layer of silicon wafers whereas polycrystalline panels are composed of many thin layers of silicon wafers. The amount the two types produce is different.

Monocrystalline solar cells can produce up to 4.6 kWh per square meter per day while polycrystalline cells generate between 3 and 4 kWh/m2/day.

The amount of energy produced is dependent on the angle and position of the sun.

A west-facing solar panel in Ottawa, Canada will produce more than a north-facing panel. In Ottawa the average monthly solar radiation deliverable by a west-facing panel is 667 kWh/m2/month and 441 kWh/m2/month for a north-facing panel; an average for a month of April. That’s assuming 100% efficiency of the panels, which is impossible to achieve as panels are not perfect.

The amount of solar energy available at a given time of day can be affected by cloud cover. This is why it is important to have a backup source of energy in case the sun is not shining or clouds prevent the panels from generating energy.

Solar panels produce more energy in the winter months than they do in summer. This is because in the winter, the sun is higher and there are fewer hours of direct sunlight.

We live in a grid-connected society. What this means is that the energy we produce (solar energy) is being used and fed into the grid. We are not producing our own solar energy. We are not harvesting solar power!

There are lots of myths about this and as a result, many people think that they should install their own panels to produce their own power! This is a very risky investment as you will be paying for your panels whether the sun shines or not. The government will not pay you for producing your own power.

There is a grid-connected solar rebate offered by the Government of Canada and the Ontario Government.

A grid attached solar PV system can reduce your hydro bills by 20% with the rebates being offered by the Canadian and Ontario governments.

The brightness of the sun can also be affected by environmental factors, such as snow on the ground or pollution particles in the air. Use of solar panels could be affected by a reduction in average sunlight intensity due to cloud cover or other weather conditions..

The type of roof and surroundings will also impact solar panels Ottawa output.

In the case of a home with a south-facing roof in Ottawa, Ontario Canada, southern sun exposure will produce more energy than north-facing panels; in the summer and winter.

A typical home with solar panels will have an average production of 200 kWh to 400 kWh per month. This is enough energy to power most appliances, including your microwave and refrigerator.

A typical solar system on a house will cost $30,000-$60000, depending on what you choose within the system. It will take at least 10 years for a solar panel to pay for itself based on the amount of energy produced in comparison to what you use. In that time, most of us won’t need refrigerators or microwave ovens anyway.

The future of solar panels is promising; with expected developments in biomimicry, and nanotechnology, solar panel efficiency rates are expected to improve.

A tilt-and-track system could also be used as an alternative to fixed panels 10,000 and take about half a day for two people to install. This could be a good option for people in Ottawa with roofs that are problematic for fixed solar panels.

If you want to know how much energy your Ottawa home can produce contact us today. We would love to answer any of your questions in regards to solar panels or other renewable energy systems.