To size a system, you use anywhere from 70% to 100% of the pool’s surface area to determine how many panels. A 10′ x 40′ pool is 400 sq ft, it would need anywhere from 280 to 400 sq ft of panels. That kit will cost less than $2000, and can heat the pool to around 10 degrees F higher than the air temp. http://www.altestore.com/store.....qFt/p7353/.

This is MUCH more cost effective than using solar electric panels to power an electric pool heater. Depending on what fuel is currently used to heat the pool, a system can pay for itself in a year or two.
References :
AltE Store - http://www.altestore.com/store/

Accordingly, you can able to find out the solution of your Energy consumption.
References :

This website has a calculator to help you with your answer:
http://www.solardirect.com/poo.....ulator.htm

(I think you need to know the size of the pool and other numbers though)

Good luck with your science project, I hope you do great!
References :

Buying the power from the panels instead of the panels itself can help with the upfront costs and lock you in to a lower per kwh cost than buying from the electric company. However, you would not qualify for the rebates available if you bought the equipment yourself, so you would continue to pay for electricity after the equipment was paid for if you bought it outright.

I don’t know anything about these companies, but a quick search for California Solar PPA turned up:

Heliomu PPA http://www.heliomu.com
Solar City Lease http://www.solarcity.com
SunRun PPA. http://www.sunrunhome.com
References :

EDIT ;

thanks for response via e mail.
But if you think you can save money
by, renting solar panels , then you are a very ignorant person.
The only way that a scheme would would work ,is if the company that is leasing the panels to you ,,have
bribed " lobbied " the local or fed politicians to get subsidized to provide the panels.
then they get payed to install them
and guaranteed to make a profit by the gov.
for "" green energy""
that is why you have to pay 25 cents , while most people pay 10 cents , because you subsidizing all the profits of these Professional thieves.
Who’s job is to find new ways to get into that deep pool of public dollars,,"tax dollars" .

Question for you ..

Do really think the rented solar panels will?
1) pay for installation
2) pay for the cost to buy the panes
3) pay the sales commission to the people that sold it to you
4) pay the on going commission to those that over see them
5) Add to that the higher rate on your elec bill to pay for these people to be subsidized , so they can " rent " you some solar panels ?????????????

Like I said ,,,,,,,you must be very ignorant about energy.
Or very Ignorant about the thousands of companies that are formed to succk tit of the tax payers.
You are ignorant on both of those points.

So dont get piisssed of at me for answering your question !!!!!
Instead ,
you should ask why you are so easily led ?
Why you are so easily "fooled " by the " users " ?
That is those that use the gov to use ignorant people like you.
HAHAHAAH.
And you fell for the whole scam without even realizing it
That is why I use the word ignorant ,, because you are.
If you dont know what "ignorant " means google it to find out.
because you are,
References :