Is My Home Suitable for Solar Panels?

Is my home suitable for solar panels? That’s the first question most homeowners ask about solar panels. Most people have formed an image of the years of what solar energy is and what it requires – sunny days and lots of them. In fact, solar technology has advanced to the point where today’s solar panels will generate significant amounts of electricity even on cloudy days.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change estimates that about 80 percent of UK homes are suitable for solar panel installation. There are, however, some factors that make one home a better candidate for solar power than others.

The Three Key Requirements for Solar Panels

The three most important things to consider when deciding if your home is a good candidate for solar panels are direction, angle and shadow. If your home meets all three requirements, there’s a good chance you – and your electric bills – will benefit from installing solar panels on your roof.

Direction

Solar panels require sunlight to produce electricity, even if that sunlight is reaching the panels through a cloud cover. The more direct sunlight the panels receive, the more electricity they will generate.  Roofs with a southern exposure will receive more direct sunlight than roof surfaces that face in other directions. East and west facing roof surfaces will also receive sufficient sunlight to generate enough electricity to make solar panels worthwhile.

Angle

The pitch of your roof makes a difference in the amount of sunlight it receives during the day, which in turn affects the amount of energy that your solar panels can generate. The optimal angle for your roof’s pitch depends a great deal upon where your home is located. A local solar system installer can help you decide if your roof is at the right angle for solar panels. Keep in mind that there are ways of installing solar PV panels at varying angles by using frames.

Shade

Anything that blocks the sun’s rays from reaching the solar panels can affect the amount of electricity they’ll generate. If your roof is shadowed by overhanging trees, chimneys or surrounding properties or landforms, a solar installer may be able to find ways to work around it. Again, the best source of information is a person experienced in planning and installing solar panels.

Most solar panel installations need very little maintenance over the years, and carry a 20 to 25 year guarantee. The inverter, which transforms the electricity generated by the solar panels into usable household current, may require replacing during that time, but it’s a relatively inexpensive and simple replacement to do. If your home is among the 80 percent of UK homes that are suitable candidates for solar PV panels, you’ll save money and help the country meet its energy goals.