How is energy production from a solar system typically measured?

Energy production from a solar system is typically measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), which represents the amount of energy produced over a specific period. This unit effectively quantifies the total energy generated by the solar system when it operates over time, allowing for an understanding of how much usable electricity is delivered to the grid or consumed on-site.

A kilowatt-hour measures the energy used if a system with a power output of one kilowatt runs for one hour. This metric is particularly useful for consumers and utility companies as it aligns with billing cycles, energy consumption patterns, and performance monitoring of solar installations.

While watts (W) and megawatts (MW) are units of power, indicating instantaneous power output at a given moment, they do not provide information on the total energy produced over time. Joules (J) is the SI unit for energy but is not commonly used for practical measurements in electric energy production at the scale of solar installations compared to kilowatt-hours. Using kWh makes it easier for stakeholders to understand energy production in terms of consumption and utility pricing.