When evaluating a potential solar PV system, one of the first questions people ask is, “Is my roof even suitable for solar panels?” Most roofing materials are suitable for solar panel installation, however, the material of your roof isn’t always the decisive element. There are a few more questions you can answer to see if your house is solar-ready. Continue reading for Freyr’s entire guide to determining whether or not your roof is suitable for solar power.
Questions to help you evaluate your roof.
1. Which way does your roof face?
Solar PV panels work best on a large, south-facing roof (for India). Looking up your roof, and thereby your property, on Google Maps is an easy method to see if it’s suitable for solar.
If you can’t get your panels to face truly south, southeast and southwest facing panels will suffice, and utilizing a structure will aid in getting the ideal orientation. If a southern exposure on your roof isn’t possible, east and west exposures are still viable options, depending on shadow analysis. If your roof orientation isn’t ideal, you can still put your panels on the ground or on another structure, such as a shed or garage.
2. How much shade does your roof get?
The amount of shade your roof receives will affect the effectiveness and output of your solar panels. Shadow from nearby structures, your own chimney, or the trees that surround your home can affect the generation of electricity. We conduct a shadow analysis using various software to understand the viability of space available and suggest a location that remains shadow free across the year.
3. How old is your roof?
Solar panel systems can last anywhere from 25 to 40 years, so make sure your roof is in good shape and won’t need to be replaced anytime soon.
4. What shape and size is your roof?
Installing panels on a huge square roof is the easiest. A rough rule of thumb is that you’ll need about 100 square feet of roof area for every kilowatt of your system’s size. Keep in mind that chimneys, parapet walls, water tanks etc will have an impact on the quantity of space available.
5. Is your roof flat or sloped?
Roofs with flat surfaces are fine. The ideal angle for a sloped roof is between 30 and 40 degrees. A maximum angle of 40 degrees is possible (any steeper and performance will not be at maximum potential).
6. Who owns your roof?
This appears to be a ridiculous question to add at first look. The majority of people who are considering solar PV installation own the land where it will be installed. However, as solar becomes increasingly mainstream, a growing number of tenants are pushing solar installations and urging their owners to adopt them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Solar on my roof is determined by the following factors:
- Which way does the roof face?
- How much shade does the roof get?
- Age of the roof?
- What is the shape and size of the roof?
- Is the roof flat or sloped?
- Who owns the roof?
Based on each factor, you can determine if your roof can suit a solar panel or not.
In India, the best direction for a solar panel roof to work efficiently is southwards. However, if the house is facing southeast or southwest, it will still work efficiently. Alternatively, if your house does not face south at all, the east and west are decent options.
Shades on the roof reduce the impact of sunlight absorption in the solar panels. Structures like chimneys, trees, or any other blockage nearby, could hamper the performance of the panels in terms of power generation. If nothing works on roofs, solar panels can be installed on another mounted structure or even on the grounds.
For an easy calculation perspective, the ideal solar power roof size should be 100 sq. ft space for every 1 kW system.
The key is to incline up to 40-degree tilts to gain the most out of solar energy. Thus, installing solar panels on a flat roof does a decent job.
Roof assessment is easy based on several conditions. If you are finding it hard to assess, contact Freyr Energy, and we are here to help you assess everything related to the suitability of a solar panel roof.
Yes. If you don’t have sufficient roof space, it is possible to install the structures on the ground. The key is to ensure the space has uninterrupted exposure to sunlight. Not just installing solar panel on my roof, these panels can be installed on ground levels.
Yes. Solar power roof direction in the east would work decently. Only opt for the direction if you don’t have an open south-facing roof.
