Lets assume that you want to install 10 solar panels rated at 100 Watts each and having a conversion efficiency of 18%. The total power output of the solar system can be calculated as:

Total Power Output=Total Area x Solar Irradiance x Conversion Efficiency

We know the required Total Output Power is 1000 Watts (10 panels x 100 Watts), the Solar Irradiance for a surface perpendicular to the Sun’s rays at sea level on a clear day is about 1000 Watt/m2 and the Conversion Efficiency is 18%. Plugging these number in the above equation we get:

1000 Watts = Total Area x 1000 Watts/m2 x 0.18

or Total Area = 5.56 m2

I you are going to install all the panels in one line you would need a space of approximately 1 m x 5.56 m (each panel having a size of 1 m x 0.556 m) on your rooftop. There you go. You have a rough estimate of the space required by the solar panels of your system.

In addition

1. Do remember that solar panels are usually installed at an angle to the earth surface and this may change the results somewhat.

2. Imagine a solar panel has a conversion efficiency of 100% i.e. it converts all the solar energy into electrical energy then all you would need is a 1 m2 solar panel to produce 1000 Watts of electrical energy.

Based on the above in my opinion the best formula is the first one

Area =(kw)/((kw/m^2)) but you have to consider the conversion efficiency in this formula

I think you should consider the maximum and average solar power or energy

The total might not be as important as the maximum load at any given time...

@ patrik

sir my doubt is about what method should i adopt to calculate the area of solar panel.

Area =(kw)/((kw/m^2)) is better or

area = (kwh)/((kwh/m^2))

??????

Pick the lowest power output you can get during the day time, say early morning and afternoon. In ideal cloudless condition of course. Then calculate surface area based on that. Extra peak of power you get during the midday is your bonus for storage which can be utilized to extend energy available during the day.

Thanx adam

But i m still in question . I m doing some economic analysis of off grid solar panel and for that i have to match the effective area which i have to the total area require for solar panel . So wheather i consider the peak demand power or peak demand energy to calculate area.

Lets assume that you want to install 10 solar panels rated at 100 Watts each and having a conversion efficiency of 18%. The total power output of the solar system can be calculated as:

Total Power Output=Total Area x Solar Irradiance x Conversion Efficiency

We know the required Total Output Power is 1000 Watts (10 panels x 100 Watts), the Solar Irradiance for a surface perpendicular to the Sun’s rays at sea level on a clear day is about 1000 Watt/m2 and the Conversion Efficiency is 18%. Plugging these number in the above equation we get:

1000 Watts = Total Area x 1000 Watts/m2 x 0.18

or Total Area = 5.56 m2

I you are going to install all the panels in one line you would need a space of approximately 1 m x 5.56 m (each panel having a size of 1 m x 0.556 m) on your rooftop. There you go. You have a rough estimate of the space required by the solar panels of your system.

In addition

1. Do remember that solar panels are usually installed at an angle to the earth surface and this may change the results somewhat.

2. Imagine a solar panel has a conversion efficiency of 100% i.e. it converts all the solar energy into electrical energy then all you would need is a 1 m2 solar panel to produce 1000 Watts of electrical energy.

Based on the above in my opinion the best formula is the first one

Area =(kw)/((kw/m^2)) but you have to consider the conversion efficiency in this formula

Jorge has given a perfect answer. Let me add a few lines to that.

As a thumb rule, a 10 m2 area is required for a 1 KW capacity solar system.

This is due to:-