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Learn how to design, size, and evaluate solar PV systems for your home or business. Each guide links to a free interactive tool you can use right now.

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47 guides

Solar System Sizing

Calculate Solar System Size From Your Bill

Convert monthly bill to kWp, panel count, and inverter size with step-by-step examples for global markets.

Solar Panel Wattage Explained

Compare 400W to 700W panels. Which wattage is the sweet spot in 2026 for residential installations?

Panels for 5kW, 10kW & 15kW Systems

Comprehensive reference table for panel counts at different wattages and system sizes with string configs.

Monthly Bill to Solar kWp Conversion

Quick conversion tables for USA, UK, EU, Australia, India, Pakistan, UAE and other markets.

Battery Storage

Solar Battery Size Calculator

Calculate the exact Ah and kWh battery capacity needed for your home backup. Compare tubular vs lithium.

Battery Bank Voltage: 12V vs 24V vs 48V

Choose the right battery voltage for your system. Tradeoffs between current, cable size, and efficiency.

Tubular vs Lithium Battery Cost

10-year cost comparison including replacements, heat waste, and grid tariff inflation.

Battery Depth of Discharge Explained

Why 50% DoD matters for lead-acid and 90% for lithium. Cycle life impact at different DoD levels.

Battery Ah to kWh Conversion

Convert spec label Ah ratings to kWh. Full conversion table for 12V, 24V, and 48V systems.

Net Metering vs Battery Storage

Compare grid-as-battery vs physical battery. Decision framework based on your export tariff and usage pattern.

Lithium vs Tubular: 10-Year LCOS

Levelized cost of storage analysis. Lithium at $0.15/kWh vs tubular at $0.43/kWh cycled over 10 years.

Roof & Space

Rooftop Solar Feasibility Check

Check if your roof has enough space. Area tables for 3kW to 20kW at different panel wattages.

Solar Panel Dimensions Standard

Standard panel sizes by wattage from 400W to 700W. Length, width, weight, and area per panel.

Minimum Roof Area for 10kW System

Exact roof area needed for a 10kW system at 450W, 550W, and 650W panel options with setback.

Fire Safety Setback for Solar

NEC 690.12 and IRC R324 requirements. Why 30% of roof must stay clear for walkways and fire access.

Financial & ROI

Solar Payback Period Calculator

Payback years, 10-year ROI, and 25-year profit for markets worldwide using P90 bankable yield.

10-Year Solar ROI Analysis

Comprehensive ROI analysis with sensitivity to tariff escalation, yield variance, and system cost range.

Solar Cost Per Watt (CPW) Guide

CPW benchmarks across 7 markets. What makes a good price and what drives cost variation.

How to Compare Solar Quotes

7-point checklist with red flags for inflated yield. Compare CPW, warranty, and equipment quality.

Solar P50 vs P90 Yield Explained

Why banks use P90 for financing. How CV affects the gap between P50 and P90 estimates.

Climate & Location

Best Panel Angle & Direction

Latitude-based tilt guide with seasonal adjustments. Yield loss for suboptimal orientations.

Location & Solar Performance

Specific yield benchmarks for 20 global cities. How GHI, temperature, and latitude affect yield.

Winter vs Summer Performance

Seasonal yield variation, temperature coefficient effects, snow albedo, and winter sizing strategy.

Appliances & Expansion

Solar for AC & EV Charger

System size needed for air conditioning and EV charging. Load tables and inverter requirements.

Future-Proof Your Inverter

Why installing a bigger inverter now saves $1000-2000 later when adding EV, AC, or heat pumps.

Extra Load After Solar

Calculate additional kWp, panels, and inverter upgrade needed when adding appliances post-installation.

Solar EV Charging Guide

How many extra panels for EV charging, charger types, solar diverters vs off-peak charging, and cost savings analysis.

Maintenance

Solar Panel Cleaning ROI

Does cleaning pay off? Daily loss formula, payback days by region, and the 60-day rule.

Solar Soiling Loss Guide

How dust, pollution, and bird droppings reduce yield. Soiling rates by region and cleaning frequency.

Solar Panel Cleaning Methods

DIY vs professional cleaning, regional cleaning frequency, costs, and ROI analysis for keeping panels at peak efficiency.

For Installers & EPCs

Solar Proposal Template Guide

8-section proposal framework mapped to Solar Metrix modules. Close more deals with data-driven reports.

Solar String Sizing Guide

Calculate panels per string for any inverter. Voltage, current, and MPPT limits with worked examples.

DC/AC Ratio Explained

Optimal DC/AC ratio range (1.15-1.35), clipping loss estimation, and orientation-based optimization.

Inverter Technology

Microinverters vs String Inverters

Compare microinverters vs string inverters: cost, efficiency, shading performance, reliability, and which is best for your roof.

Hybrid Inverters Guide

Complete guide to hybrid inverters with battery-ready capability. AC vs DC coupling, top models compared, and sizing guidance.

Solar Inverter Types Guide

String vs micro vs hybrid vs off-grid inverters explained. Cost, efficiency, warranty comparison with decision framework.

Financing & Incentives

Solar Financing: Loan vs Lease vs PPA vs Cash

Compare cash purchase, solar loans, leases, and PPAs. 25-year cost comparison with tax implications and decision framework.

Government Solar Incentives by Country

Country-by-country guide to solar tax credits, rebates, feed-in tariffs, and net metering policies worldwide.

Net Metering Policies by Country

Global net metering and net billing policies. Compare rollover rules, buyback rates, and caps across 9 countries.

Panel Technology

Solar Panel Types: Mono vs Poly vs Thin Film

Compare monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film solar panel efficiency, cost, temp coefficient, and best use cases.

Solar Panel Degradation & Warranty

Degradation rates (0.3-0.8%/yr), product vs performance warranties, and how to read solar panel warranty fine print.

Off-Grid & Backup

Off-Grid Solar System Design

Complete off-grid design guide: battery bank, solar array, charge controller, and inverter sizing with worked examples.

Solar Power Outage Backup

Which solar systems keep your lights on during a blackout? Grid-tied vs hybrid vs off-grid backup options and battery sizing.

Commercial & Business

Commercial Solar for Businesses

Commercial solar costs, ROI, accelerated depreciation (MACRS), ITC, and financing for warehouses, factories, and offices.

Monitoring & Technology

Solar Monitoring Systems Guide

Compare Enphase, SolarEdge, SMA, and third-party monitoring. Panel-level vs system-level monitoring and how to detect faults.

Urban & Renters

Solar for Apartments & Renters

Balcony solar, community solar, portable generators, and how to convince your landlord to go solar without owning a roof.

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