How much energy can a photovoltaic module produce?
Electrical energy is generally measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Thus, if a module produces 100 Watts for 1 hours, it has produced 100 Watt-hours or 0.1 kWh. The amount of energy produced on a given day will depend on location, shading, and module orientation (direction and tilt). In a good area for solar power (such as Phoenix, Arizona), a properly oriented module which produces 100 Watts at noon on a clear day will produce an average of about 0.5 kWh/day in January and 0.8 kWh/day in May and June. (Fluctuations result from the amount of variation in direct sunlight on a typical day). In a relatively “poor” area for solar power (such as Albany, NY), the same module will still produce about 0.25 kWh/day in January and 0.6 kWh/day in July.
