Sheds With Solar Panels: Building Guide, Costs, Benefits and More
Adding the right shed to your backyard can help you get more enjoyment out of your outdoor space. It can be a place for storage, working on projects, and whatever else you can imagine. But backyard sheds aren’t as efficient as they can be without reliable power.
That’s why you may be interested in adding solar panels to your shed. Doing so can help you get more value out of your shed and your backyard.
This guide covers everything you need to know to decide whether installing solar panels on your shed is right for you. Keep reading to learn the pros, cons, cost, and other key details of this home improvement project.
The Benefits of Adding Solar Panels to Your Shed
Save Money on Energy
The first reason to consider adding solar panels to your shed is the energy they can provide to your outdoor space. When properly wired, solar panels can power all of the lights in your shed, recharge your tools, and maybe even recharge your electric vehicle.
You could even use some of the power created by your solar panels to charge other electronics and lights throughout your backyard or patio. This all adds up to savings on your energy bill since you’ll get the power you need for free from the sun instead of having to pay to pull it from the utility system.
Increase Your Home’s Property Value
Adding solar panels to your shed could also help to increase your home’s property value. There’s research suggesting that every $1 you invest in solar panels increases your home’s value by $20. That could mean fetching a higher price if you ever decide to sell your home in the future.
Charge a Portable Power Station
You can also use the solar panels on your shed to charge a portable power station. If you’re not familiar, these are portable batteries that you can either use as a backup source of free energy at home or as a portable source of energy on the go. Solar panels on your shed are perfect for charging a portable power station, so you can get the energy you need no matter where your life takes you.
BougeRV’s portable power stations use the latest in safe, clean energy technology to provide a powerful portable power solution at an affordable price. Take a look at our shop if you’re interested in learning more.
Things to Consider Before Installing Solar Panels
There are a few potential downsides to installing solar panels to your shed that you should know about before committing. Here are two key ones.
Costs vs. Value
The first factor to consider is the cost of adding solar panels to your shed against the value they can provide.
For example, how much money will these solar panels save you on your energy bill annually? There’s a chance they will pay for themselves over time. Or you might discover that the savings aren’t enough to warrant the investment.
You can calculate this yourself by figuring out how many kilowatt-hours of outdoor power you use now and what your electricity company charges per kWh. Now, imagine replacing all of those costs with free solar energy and then determine if the value is enough to pay the cost of the solar panels you want.
The Elements
You should also think about the elements before adding solar panels to your outdoor shed. If you live in a place with frequent snow or rain, then the panels could be easily damaged if they aren’t protected well from the weather. It’s not difficult to find weather-proof options, but they add to your installation costs.
Types of Solar Panels for Sheds
There are three main types of solar panels for sheds to consider if you’ve decided to proceed with this project after weighing the pros and cons. We take a look at each of these below.
Monocrystalline
Monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient type of solar panels for sheds but tend to cost more than other options because of this. They help you generate more energy with less space and are resilient to extreme temperatures.
Polycrystalline
Polycrystalline solar panels aren’t as efficient as their monocrystalline counterparts but tend to be more affordable. They can be a good fit if you want to keep the costs of this project low and are confident you will be able to generate enough energy to meet your needs.
Flexible Solar Panels
You might also consider flexible solar panels. These are made out of a thin-film material that makes it possible to install solar panels on irregularly shaped surfaces. They can be an excellent choice if your shed has an uneven roof and you’re struggling to maximize the space with standard solar panels.
Another big advantage of flexible solar panels is their affordable price tag. These solar panels are highly affordable but at the expense of efficiency. Given this, you may want to consider only using flexible solar panels on the parts of your shed that need them, while using mono or polycrystalline panels on the shed’s even surfaces.
How Much Does It Cost to Add Solar Panels to a Shed?
You can add solar power to your shed for as little as a few thousand dollars, depending on your energy needs. However, that’s based on BougeRV’s prices. Other retailers may charge more.
The biggest factor in determining your price will be the amount of energy you want to generate. Simple setups that are capable of producing medium amounts of power may cost between $6,500 and $7,000 to build. However, if you want a more powerful solar shed, you could pay $11,000 or more to create it.
The good news is that you can customize your price to meet your needs. If you want to keep the project under a certain budget, then limiting the number of panels you purchase will enable you to do that. There will just be a corresponding decline in power production capability as your price goes down.
How to Add Solar Panels to Your Shed?
The process for adding solar panels to your shed can vary based on the type of installation you want to do and the kind of shed you own. But generally, it will look something like this:
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Run wiring throughout your shed so that you can plug devices into the shed and access the solar power you’re creating.
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Install solar panels on the roof of the shed.
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Set up a portable power station to collect and store the excess energy the solar panels create so that you can use solar power even when the sun goes down.
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Install a solar connector to ensure the electricity flows properly.
Your installation process could be more or less complicated than this, depending on your goals. When in doubt, it’s never a bad idea to contact a solar contractor to make sure you’re doing things correctly. However, there are solar power installation kits you can buy online that may be able to guide you through this with more precision.
Build Your Ideal Solar Shed With BougeRV
If you’re ready to add solar panels to your backyard shed, BougeRV can help. We sell a wide variety of solar power products, including solar panels, portable power stations, and more.
Our products are made with the latest technology and highest-quality materials, but we keep our costs low enough to offer them to you at affordable prices.
Don’t take our word for it. Take a look at our online shop to find the best solar panels and portable power station you need to create your dream solar-powered shed.
Solar Panels and Sheds FAQs
How Many Solar Panels Should I Add to My Shed?
That depends on how much energy you want your shed to create. Most experts recommend at least about 400 watts worth of solar power generation. But there are no hard and fast rules, it just depends on your preferences.
Is It Worth Adding Solar Panels to a Shed?
Yes, it can absolutely be worth it to add solar panels to your shed. The upfront costs can be relatively high, but over time, the solar panels will save you money on your energy bill and increase the value of your home. You might even qualify for tax breaks depending on the state you live in.
How Much Does It Cost to Add Solar Panels to a Shed?
You should expect to pay between $5,000 and $11,000 to add solar panels to a shed that can produce medium-to-high amounts of energy. However, if you don’t want to spend this much, you can always add fewer solar panels to your shed to save money.
