How Much Solar Power Do I Need For My Shed?
Many homeowners use their sheds for rough work, personal projects, and other tasks. To make your shed off-grid, the best option is to use alternative energy sources like solar power.
A lot of people use metal and wood in their sheds. A typical shed may need a 2.7 kWp DC solar system to fully power it. This way, it won’t have to rely on the home’s electricity.
If you’re interested in powering your shed with solar energy, this article is for you. We will assist you in determining the energy requirements of your shed. We will also guide you in selecting the appropriate size solar panel system to power it.
Determining the Right Solar Panel System Size for Your Shed
If you’re considering utilizing solar power for your shed, this piece will guide you.We will determine the energy requirements of a shed. Then, we will demonstrate how to calculate the appropriate size of a solar power system for it.
To power a shed with solar energy, you must estimate the number of solar panels needed. This section will assist you in determining the appropriate size of a PV system for your shed. It considers factors such as energy usage and location. By taking these factors into account, you can calculate the right size PV system for your shed.
Our case study may not be exactly like your situation. However, it can help you figure out how to calculate your energy use. This calculation will rely on your own needs.
In addition to determining the solar panel installation, we will include a solar energy storage system. This will make your shed independent. Allowing your shed to use solar power will be possible. This creates a self-sufficient solar system for your shed.
Calculating the Load or Power Demand From the Shed
To determine your home’s power needs, check your electricity bill. However, this method doesn’t apply to sheds. To estimate the shed’s load, you need to calculate the power demand of the equipment used in it.
The guide for appliance energy usage (Figure 1) enumerates the most frequently utilized electronic devices and tools in a household. Next to each appliance, the guide shows how much power the appliance consumes per hour.
We will calculate the shed’s power usage for a full workday from 10:00 to 21:00. The tools will be used for 1 hour each during this time.
OR
Each tool will be used for 1 hour during this time. We will also include the lighting system in our calculation.
According to our calculation, working in the shed for 9 hours uses around 9.97 kWh of energy. We will use this number to determine the size of the PV system needed. Calculate the power needed for your calculations by using the regular power usage at your shed as a reference.
Considering Your Location
When determining the appropriate size of a PV system for your shed, your geographic location is a vital element to take into account.ifferent states receive varying amounts of sunlight. This means that sheds in some areas may require more or fewer solar panels. The goal is to produce the same amount of energy.
When figuring out how much energy a solar panel can make, you need to think about Peak Sun Hours (PSH). PSH shows how much sunlight is like 1000 watts per square meter. This is the most sunlight a solar panel system needs to make the most electricity. The power output of the PV system will vary depending on the number of PSH.
The map shows how much sunlight different states get. Some states get 6 or 8 hours of sunlight, while others get around 4 hours.
You can determine the exact PSH for your area by utilizing the website of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). We will use 6.25 PSH for our calculations. This figure represents the mean of 5 and 7.5 kWh/day obtained in California.
Determining the Quantity of Solar Panels in the PV System
Taking into account the daily energy usage of the shed (9.97 kWh) and the Peak Sun Hours (PSH) in California (6.25 PSH), we can determine the necessary DC power for the photovoltaic system. To determine how much energy the shed uses each day, we first divide its daily energy consumption by the PSH. Then, we adjust the result by applying a derating factor of 0.6.
This factor causes losses in a PV system that is not connected to the grid. The formula is:
For our case study, we need a system that can generate 2.658 kWp of solar power to run the shed. Here’s the analyzed information for determining the number of modules needed for the PV system:
We will use the CS3K-300P KuPower (300-watt) solar panel for our study. The formula to calculate the number of panels is:
To power the shed, we need about 8.8 solar panels. Hence, we will employ a PV system equipped with 9 such panels, offering a total DC capacity of 2.7 kWp.
Keep in mind that you must provide the surge power requirements for the tools for them to function correctly. This depends mainly on the battery bank’s power rating capabilities, but that’s a separate consideration.
How Many Watts For Solar Powered Shed?
A 50W solar panel is enough to power a simple storage shed. However, two 250W panels are required if the shed is also used as a home office. If the shed is a power tool workshop, you need at least 4000W–5000W to power the tools, lights, and other things. How much does it mean in terms of money? To give you an idea of how much this costs, a 5,000-watt solar system for a 1,500-square-foot home costs nearly $11,750 in the US.
The solar power would be different depending on what you want to use your shed for. Add up everything in your shed that would need electricity, then make a rough guess. This will give you something to work with.
How Many Watts For Solar Powered Shed?
For Office Shed
An office shed caters to individuals who work remotely and seek a tranquil workspace for daytime activities. Opting for an office shed over a home office provides an environment free from disruptions, sparing the need to rearrange living spaces.
Depending on the foundational office equipment, a backyard or office shed typically demands between 3000W to 4000W of solar capacity. To estimate the requisite solar energy for your office shed, refer to the energy consumption table provided.
| Description | Power (Watts) |
|---|---|
| Laptop/Desktop Computer | 100 – 200 |
| Printer/Scanner | 100 – 200 |
| Phones/Tablets | 10 |
| Lighting (LED) | 20 – 100 |
| HVAC/Heating (if applicable) | 500 – 1500 |
Solar Powered Shed For Workshop
If you’re engaged in DIY projects and own a workshop shed. Having access to electricity is crucial to operate appliances, power tools, and electrical equipment. Many of the tools used in a workshop demand substantial energy. Even if you’re utilizing a solar generator to supply power to the shed, it’s essential to consider the duration for which your electric tools can run before the available power depletes.
A typical workshop shed necessitates a power output of 4000W to 5000W. By installing 250W solar panels on your shed’s roof, you can ensure sufficient solar energy to support your electric tools. Provided below is a table outlining the energy requirements for a workshop shed. Remember that all electric tools have both starting Watts and running Watts.
| Tool | Starting Watts | Running Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Jigsaw | 300W | 300W |
| Table Saw | 2700W | 1800W |
| Electric Drill | 900W | 600W |
| Circular Saw | 4200W | 1400W |
| Orbital Sander | 2600W | 1200W |
| Miter Saw | 1800W | 1800W |
| Router | 1500W | 600W |
Solar Powered Shed For Greenhouse
A common purpose for an outbuilding is a garden shed, utilized to store gardening equipment and supplies. If you possess adept manual skills, your garden tools might not rely on electricity for operation.
However, should your inventory include electric garden tools, ensuring ample solar energy for your shed becomes imperative, allowing you to tend to your garden devoid of electricity cost concerns. If you’re inquiring about the requisite wattage for a solar-powered shed equipped with garden tools, you’re likely considering a range of 2000W to 4000W. Refer to the following table to assess your garden shed’s energy prerequisites.
| Tool | Starting Watts | Running Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Leaf Blower | 0W | 2500W |
| Weed Cutter | 600W | 500W |
| Electric Mower | 0W | 1500W |
| Electric Strimmer | 500W | 300W |
| Hedge Trimmer | 600W | 450W |
| Chainsaw (1.5HP) | 0W | 900W |
| Cultivator (1.2HP) | 1400W | 700W |
Are Solar Power For Shed Worth It?
Deciding whether solar sheds are a worthwhile investment depends on your specific power needs and the shed’s distance from other available power sources. For certain individuals, the electrical systems of solar power for shed may be perceived as costly when considering their relatively modest power output.
From a purely financial perspective, it might be more economical to install buried conduits to bring electricity from the main house to the shed. However, if the distance is substantial, constructing a solar shed could prove to be a more cost-effective option compared to the expenses associated with running underground power lines.
Final Thoughts
Calculating the number of panels required for your shed’s PV system is straightforward. You just need to use the two formulas provided in this article. Match your shed’s power usage with Peak Sun Hours for accurate results.
Installing a battery system is also essential for an off-grid setup. Solar lithium or deep cycle battery banks are excellent options for this purpose.
If you’re not sure how much space is on your shed’s roof, you can use a helpful online tool called PVWatts. It was made by NREL and is very efficient.
Use this tool to determine the space needed for a solar panel system on your shed. Use it also to estimate the amount of power you can generate on your entire roof. Remember that PVWatts is designed for grid-tied PV systems, so you may require additional solar power for an off-grid setup.