When looking into the option of solar panels at your home in Leeds, one of the main questions DP Electrical Specialists Ltd get asked is “Is my roof suitable for Solar Panels?”. We’ll now delve a little deeper into this topic to cover the FAQ’s around it for you.
Is my roof suitable for Solar Panels? - DP Electrical Specialists Leeds
Does the roof of my Leeds home have enough space?
As part of wanting to know “Is my roof suitable for Solar Panels?” customers often enquire how much space they need. For a typical 3-4kW system you’ll need in the region of 20-30 square meters of roof space. This is subject to the size of the system you are looking to have installed and the specific energy needs for your Leeds home.
As a guideline a 3kW system may require 20-25 square meters and would use around 8-10 solar panels. A 6kW system would be in the region of 40-50 square meters and 15-17 panels.
I have a flat roof… Is my roof suitable for Solar Panels?
In answer to your question “I have a flat roof… Is my roof suitable for Solar Panels?” the answer is yes. However it’ll require a tilted mounting system in order to optimise sunlight capture and may require additional structural support.
With a flat roof it’ll allow for easy access to install and maintain and gives greater flexibility when choosing the optimal mounting angle and orientation which enables your system to maximise on sunlight exposure. These benefits aside DP Electrical Specialists Ltd must make you aware that flat roofs are more exposed to wind so may need to be ballasted to prevent them from being blown off and your flat roof will need to be properly sealed and made sure that water can effectively drain away to avoid any issues.
Does my roof face the right way?
DP Electrical Specialists Ltd can advise that a south facing roof is optimal when wanting to know “Is my roof suitable for Solar Panels?” They’ll capture the most sunlight, even in the winter months when daylight hours are fewer.
East and west facing roofs are still a viable option. They’re able to generate a noteworthy amount of electricity capturing sunlight in both the mornings and afternoons.
North facing roofs are less effective as they receive significantly less direct sunlight. If you must use a north facing roof you may need the panel angles to be steeper to capture indirect and reflected light, but the energy output will still be lower than the other orientations.
Is my roof suitable for Solar Panels? or does it get too much shade?
Shade can significantly impact the solar efficiency however modern systems can mitigate some of these effects by using technology such as optimisers, microinverters and bypass diodes. So if you’re going to ask DP Electrical Specialists Ltd as to suitability we can advise that mitigation strategies are available. These options can aid individual panels to continue to produce power despite some being shaded and therefore the entire system will not be affected. They can also work independently which again minimises the impact and some even reroute the current around the shaded areas preventing an entire failure BUT it can still reduce the overall output.
Solar Panel Installers in Leeds - DP Electrical Specialists Ltd
Having offered peace of mind as to “Is my roof suitable for Solar Panels?” you’ll now be looking for a local, reliable and trustworthy Renewable Energy Expert in Leeds. So give DP Electrical Specialists Ltd a call today on 07764 760281.
