In a short period of time, solar installation has advanced significantly, and most roofs can support panels with ease. But there are some things to think about. Every solar installation is different; it’s not unusual for two homes to have significantly different systems on the same block.
How To Check Your Roof is Good for Solar
System?
There may be an impact from elements including the size and placement of your roof, the general state of your house, the presence of trees and shadows, and the closeness of other structures. Here are the factors that installers use to gauge if your roof is good for solar or not.
- Does my roof get a lot of sunlight throughout the course of the day?
- Is my roof large enough to fit solar panels on?
- Is my roof in good condition?
- Is there a lot of shading on my roof?
Here is a deep analysis of all these aspects.
Does My Roof Get A Lot Of Sunlight Throughout The Course Of The Day?
A solar panel collects solar energy and converts it to electrical power via a chemical reaction that takes place inside the solar panel. For solar panels to generate the most electricity, direct sunshine is required. Solar panels continue to produce electricity even on overcast days, but at a much lower rate than what can be anticipated during peak sun hours—typically between 25% and 40% less than during peak sun hours.
But What Precisely Are Peak Sun Hours?
Peak sun hours describe how much solar energy is present in a specific place on an average day. An hour of the day when sunshine intensity reaches 1,000 watts per square meter is known as a peak sun hour.
Your solar panels receive varying amounts of solar energy throughout the day. In addition to other constant conditions like the solar system’s position with regard to the equator and whether or not the panels are shaded, it depends on such variable factors as the sun’s position in the sky, clouds, seasons, and other atmospheric conditions.
However, you should typically have three to four peak sun hours each day if your solar system receives seven hours of sunlight each day.
Is My Roof Large Enough To Fit Solar Panels On?
It should go without saying that the more panels you can put in and the more power you can produce, the bigger your roof must be. When it comes to roof space, the key concern is whether your roof is big enough to accommodate enough solar panels to pay for your energy cost.
Currently, the industry standard for installations is panels with a 400W or less capacity. In order to suit the advised 4kW Solar PV System, the typical residence must have the ability to install at least 10 x 400W Solar Panels. You might need to add more panels based on your energy costs. You can also use higher-capacity solar panels to produce more power from a limited space on your roof.
It’s crucial to know how many panels your roof can hold if you want to be as grid-independent as possible. Any obstructions, including roof vents, and skylights, are likely to obstruct your potential solar panel layout. When first considering going solar, you might want to think about the type of panel arrangement you want and utilize nearby solar installations to estimate the number of solar panels your roof can support.
Is My Roof In Good Condition?
Your roof must be sturdy and solid enough to support the weight of the solar panels in order to have them placed on your home. All qualified installers must inspect your roof to see whether it is structurally sound before beginning an installation. Falling mortar, a decaying underlay, missing or loose tiles, mold and moss development, water damage, and rotting roof trusses, battens, or purlins are all indicators of a damaged roof.
Since well-maintained solar panels can last more than 25 years, we advise making sure the substructure will survive at least that long. A roof with solar panels installed might very well be replaced. The procedure calls for more resources than are required in terms of time, money, and logistics. Prior to and following the roofing job, installers must essentially remove and reinstall the system. You must therefore carefully evaluate your roof before installation. Prior to adopting solar panels, a roof in poor condition needs to be repaired.
Is There A Lot Of Shading On My Roof?
Modern solar panels can tolerate some shade, but for optimal solar energy generation, they should be in the sun’s direct path for most of the day. Shading can be the deciding element in determining whether your home is suited for solar panels. As shade will minimize the quantity of sunlight that your roof is exposed to, your system’s output will be decreased.
Numerous extrinsic factors can contribute to shading. Like the trees, structures, chimneys, satellites, and waste vents that are close by. The type of shading—dynamic (temporary) or static (permanent)—and the effect it will have on your system’s performance must be determined. Solar panels are wired together on a string, which means that even though the shadowing may only be seen on one panel, the performance of the entire system is impacted.
Of course, technology exists to lessen the effects of shading on solar panel systems. These devices are referred to as DC Power Optimizers. You can also use micro-inverters which can confine the impacts of shading to only the performance of the panel which is under the shade.
Your Solar System Design Matters
A properly designed system takes all these factors into consideration to provide you with the optimum results. Premier Energy designs your solar solution based on a detailed energy audit and site analysis. We ensure that we design your system in a way that can help you maximize the solar power generation potential of your roof. You can also take into account the aforementioned factors yourself and see if your roof is fit for solar installation. Comparatively, you can also get professional help from our solar experts who will take care of everything. They will not only inform you of your roof’s compatibility with solar but will also provide you with the most viable solution.
Last but not least, considering all the above factors, solar is always worth the cost if it can reduce your bill by half. Just imagine all the money you can save in 25 years with solar when the prices of electricity always keep increasing. Switch to Solar and be energy independent because it is an investment that will never disappoint you.
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