[Ken Maltby]

"In conclusion, here is a summary of the solar energy facts
you might want to know if you are looking to buy a home PV system:"

"Peak incident energy at noon on a perpendicular surface: 1 kW/sq.m"

"Average net sunlight energy over a day per square meter: 4 to 7 kWh depending on your location and PV panels angle;"

"Total electricity generated by a PV array over a day:
E[pv]=Efficiency/100×(4...7) kWh/m[squared] , where panel's efficiency is from 6% to 20%."

"For example, for the best cells efficiency of 20%, the daily yield would be 800 to 1400
watt-hours." (per 100 square meters of PV in an array, or 8 to 14 watt hours per
square meter. 30000/14=2142.857 square meters needed.)

"Power generated by the most efficient panels averaged over a day: P[pv]=E[pv]/24, which is 33 to 58 watt/m[squared]."


"In 2009, the average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer was 10,896 kWh, an average of 908 kilowatthours (kWh) per month.
Louisiana had the highest annual consumption at 15,276 kWh and Maine the lowest
at 6,252 kWh"

908/30=30kwh per day

So lets be generous and say the most efficient panels averaged 60 watts per square
meter, for a days output. Then every square meter of the most efficient PV pannels could provide 60 watts of the 30,000 watt hours used per day.

2142 square meters = 0.529 acre. So if you live on a half acre lot and like the shade...

If you live in a house with 2142 square meters of roof space and you have the money
to cover that much space with "the most efficient" PV panels, then have at it.

The American football field has dimensions of 360 ft long x 160 ft wide, which is an area
of 57,600 ft2 or approximately 5351.04 m2.

Luck;
Ken