1. What is a Solar Power Usage Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines what percentage of your total power consumption is being met by solar generation.

Purpose: It helps homeowners and businesses evaluate the effectiveness of their solar power systems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• Usage — Percentage of solar power usage
• Generated — Solar power generated (kWh)
• Total — Total power consumed (kWh)

Explanation: The solar power generated is divided by total power consumption, then multiplied by 100 to get a percentage.

3. Importance of Solar Usage Calculation

Details: Tracking solar usage percentage helps evaluate system performance, calculate savings, and determine if system expansion is needed.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the solar power generated (from your monitoring system) and total power consumed (from your utility bill). Both values must be > 0 and generated ≤ total.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a good solar usage percentage?
A: Ideally 70-100% indicates effective solar usage. Below 50% may suggest system undersizing or excessive consumption.

Q2: Can generated power exceed total consumption?
A: Normally no, unless you're exporting significant power to the grid (calculator limits generated ≤ total).

Q3: What time period should I use for these values?
A: Use consistent periods (e.g., both monthly values from your bill and solar monitor).

Q4: Why is my usage percentage low?
A: Possible causes include system shading, dirt on panels, high household consumption, or system undersizing.

Q5: How can I improve my solar usage percentage?
A: Consider energy efficiency measures, battery storage, or expanding your solar array.