What does an average residential Minnesotan solar system look like? According to the Energy Information Administration, the average Minnesotan home uses about 810 kilowatt-hours (kwh) of electricity each month. This adds up to about 9,720 kwh of electricity that is needed each year.

In Minnesota, taking into effect our northern latitude but great solar exposure, 1 kW of installed solar panels will produce about 1250 kwh of energy in a year. Therefore the average Minnesotan household needs an 8 kW solar system in order to offset all of their electrical usage, and maybe a bit more.

Here is how this system would look. We typically utilize solar panels that are rated to produce 280 watts for our residential rooftop solar systems. The dimensions of these panels are about 39” by 69”. Each panel takes up about 18 square feet of roof space. Therefore, 1 kW of installed solar panels will take up about 65 square feet of roof space. This home would need about 29 of these panels to produce their 8 kW of solar power. This solar system would take up 515 sq feet of roof space on a good roof facing towards the south. The system pictured is a little over 6 kW in size, and was built in Minneapolis.

While this post details what an average Minnesotan solar system looks like, the solar system that fits your needs and preferences might look quite different. Contact us now at 612-888-9599 or on our website and we’ll design a solar system that is unique to you.