[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":120},["ShallowReactive",2],{"post-how-many-solar-panels-do-i-need":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"date":111,"description":12,"excerpt":112,"extension":113,"meta":114,"navigation":115,"path":116,"seo":117,"stem":118,"__hash__":119},"posts/sites/solar-cork/content/posts/how-many-solar-panels-do-i-need.md","How Many Solar Panels Does a Cork Home Actually Need?",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":102},"minimark",[9,13,18,21,25,28,32,88,92,95,99],[10,11,12],"p",{},"One of the most common questions we get from Cork homeowners is: \"how many panels do I actually need?\" The honest answer is — it depends. But there's a straightforward process for working it out.",[14,15,17],"h2",{"id":16},"start-with-your-electricity-consumption","Start With Your Electricity Consumption",[10,19,20],{},"Pull out a recent ESB bill and look for your annual kWh consumption. A typical Cork semi-detached home uses between 3,500 and 5,000 kWh per year. If you have an electric vehicle or are planning to add a heat pump, your figure will be higher.",[14,22,24],{"id":23},"what-does-corks-climate-allow","What Does Cork's Climate Allow?",[10,26,27],{},"Cork receives approximately 1,100–1,200 peak sun hours per year — less than Spain, but more than you might think. A 1kWp solar system in Cork will typically generate around 850–950 kWh per year, depending on roof orientation and shading.",[14,29,31],{"id":30},"sizing-the-system","Sizing the System",[33,34,35,51],"table",{},[36,37,38],"thead",{},[39,40,41,45,48],"tr",{},[42,43,44],"th",{},"Home Type",[42,46,47],{},"Annual Usage",[42,49,50],{},"Recommended System",[52,53,54,66,77],"tbody",{},[39,55,56,60,63],{},[57,58,59],"td",{},"1–2 bed apartment/house",[57,61,62],{},"2,000–3,000 kWh",[57,64,65],{},"2–3 kWp (6–8 panels)",[39,67,68,71,74],{},[57,69,70],{},"3-bed semi-detached",[57,72,73],{},"3,500–4,500 kWh",[57,75,76],{},"3–4 kWp (8–11 panels)",[39,78,79,82,85],{},[57,80,81],{},"4–5 bed detached",[57,83,84],{},"5,000–7,000 kWh",[57,86,87],{},"4–6 kWp (11–16 panels)",[14,89,91],{"id":90},"south-facing-isnt-essential","South-Facing Isn't Essential",[10,93,94],{},"Ideally you want a south-facing roof at a pitch of 30–40 degrees. But east/west-facing roofs still generate 80–85% of the output of a south-facing system, and can actually be better for self-consumption since they spread generation across more of the day.",[14,96,98],{"id":97},"get-a-free-assessment","Get a Free Assessment",[10,100,101],{},"Cork Solar Installers will assess your roof, your consumption, and your goals and recommend the right system size — at no cost. Call us or fill in the quote form and we'll be in touch.",{"title":103,"searchDepth":104,"depth":104,"links":105},"",2,[106,107,108,109,110],{"id":16,"depth":104,"text":17},{"id":23,"depth":104,"text":24},{"id":30,"depth":104,"text":31},{"id":90,"depth":104,"text":91},{"id":97,"depth":104,"text":98},"2026-02-10",null,"md",{},true,"/sites/solar-cork/content/posts/how-many-solar-panels-do-i-need",{"title":5,"description":12},"sites/solar-cork/content/posts/how-many-solar-panels-do-i-need","TlQ5fnEzmb1W19jHen9E5npEUMRiYcQewbKzlAAGQJE",1777562617569]