How is solar energy stored and measured?
• How much roof space do I need for a PV system? • Most PV systems produce about 10 watts of power for each square foot of PV module. This means that you can install a small starter system on as little as 50 square feet of roof space, or as much as 1,000 square feet for a more powerful system. A typical four kilowatt system will need 400 to 800 square feet of unobstructed area, but always make sure you are able to access your system easily. This access space can add up to 20 percent to the total space you need for your system.
A. A PV system is not inherently capable of storing electricity unless it is combined with a battery system to store the energy it produces. Although battery storage is available, it adds additional costs to a system and is therefore less common. Instead, most homes use energy from the electrical grid when their PV systems are not generating an adequate amount of electricity. Solar energy output can be measured by a monitor for small systems, and by a more sophisticated data acquisition system (DAS) for larger systems.
