A panel’s power rating does not tell you how much energy it will produce

Second: a panel’s power rating and the energy it generates over the year are different measurements. A module’s specifications list its power in watts peak, or Wp. That figure is obtained under standardized test conditions and allows panels to be compared. The electricity an installation actually produces is measured in kilowatt-hours, or kWh. That second figure depends on the location and how the system operates each day. Let us return to the two homes. Even if they install panels with identical power ratings, they may receive different amounts of solar radiation. The orientation and tilt of the modules, temperature, and shading also play a role. If a tree shades part of a roof for several hours, the expected output changes. The same applies if the available surfaces require the panels to face different directions. That is why watts peak are not a promise of a given number of kilowatt-hours per year. To estimate how many panels a house needs, you have to look at its electricity consumption and calculate how much the installation could produce at that location. The power rating helps you choose and compare modules; the energy estimate helps you assess what they will contribute where they are going to be installed.

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