Portable power and solar generators

What Can a Single 100W Solar Panel Run in a Day?

Published · By the SolarPanelX editors · Prices and specs as of that date, from the pages under Sources

Summary

Averaged over a year, roughly 300 to 480 Wh a day. Scaling NLR PVWatts estimates for a south-facing, 20-degree array with 14% losses down to 100 W gives about 480 Wh a day in Phoenix and about 300 Wh in Seattle. A 10 W LED for five hours takes 50 Wh and a 60 W device for three hours takes 180 Wh, and all three cities in the table clear that 230 Wh total on an annual average.

City by city

CityPVWatts annual output per kWAnnual output for 100 WDaily average
Phoenix, AZabout 1,755 kWhabout 176 kWhabout 480 Wh
New York, NYabout 1,291 kWhabout 129 kWhabout 350 Wh
Seattle, WAabout 1,088 kWhabout 109 kWhabout 300 Wh

These daily figures are the annual totals divided by 365. A winter day comes in lower and a clear summer day higher. The runs assume a fixed roof mount, so a panel laid flat on the ground or pointed the wrong way will land somewhere else. PVWatts itself warns that its predictions carry many assumptions and uncertainties. Renogy's own page claims its 100W flexible panel averages 500 Wh a day, depending on sun, which is close to the Phoenix row.

After dark

A panel has no storage. DOE describes batteries as what lets solar energy power a home at night or in bad weather, so the evening LED runs on whatever went into a battery or power station during the day. Which one you can charge depends on the panel's electrical ratings, and those vary even at the same wattage. Renogy's flexible 100W panel has an open-circuit voltage of 23.5 V, and BougeRV's Arch Pro 100W has 37.8 V. The manufacturers of the panel and of the receiving device set what can be connected.

Shopping for one? Browse portable power stations →

Sources

  1. NLR Developer Network — PVWatts API Version 8 (queried by the editors on September 23, 2026: 1 kW, south-facing, 20° tilt, fixed roof mount, standard module, 14% losses)
  2. National Laboratory of the Rockies — PVWatts Calculator
  3. U.S. Department of Energy — Solar Photovoltaic System Design Basics
  4. Renogy US — 100W Lightweight Flexible Solar Panel (Black Division)
  5. BougeRV — Arch Pro 100W N-Type TOPCon Flexible Solar Panel

We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.

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