Many people stop before installing a photovoltaic system, claiming that installing panels on the roof is not possible anyway. As experts, we offer available options for all types of roofs, so the question of roof type is no longer relevant.
Orientation, type of roof, construction, material - many, many variables that may suggest that on some properties it definitely cannot be installed. However, thanks to our years of professional experience, we can confidently say that a photovoltaic panel system can be installed on almost any type of roof. Of course, there are cases when a unique support structure must be used, the finished installation takes more time or preliminary work is required, but nothing is impossible.
Roof installation begins with a thorough inspection
After receiving an installation inquiry, we will travel to the site within a few days to assess the possibilities and, based on this, provide the interested party with a more accurate schedule and price calculation. During the site visit we also use planning software, based on its calculations you can determine the location of the panels and the conditions for their installation on the roof, as well as the expected annual energy production.
Then we study the static condition of the roof structure, the condition and material of the roofing, that is, what are the possibilities.
At Yuxta, we perform installation of photovoltaic system on the following roofs:
- clay tile
- concrete tile,
- asphalt shingles,
- corrugated sheet metal,
- trapezoidal sheet metal,
- flat roof
Perhaps, if the roof is not at all suitable for the installation of photovoltaic panels, we will suggest a ground installation.
The following factors are important during installation
Roof angle and orientation
The most optimal case is a south-facing roof, with a slope angle of 30-35 degrees. This does not mean that all other orientations and angles are out of the question - they just need to be designed differently.
If the orientation and pitch angle deviate from the ideal, the expected annual energy production is reduced. If, say, a customer has a saddle roof oriented east and west, but still has a slope angle of 35°, the system will produce 20% less than ideal. If the orientation is south, but the pitch angle is only 15°, production will be 5% less than ideal.
What about in the case of a flat roof?
In this case, too, roof mounting can work, but you need a kind of support structure with which to position the panels in the right direction and at the right angle. In such cases, it is possible to create an absolutely ideal orientation and angle of inclination, but in practice we most often use a south 10-15° arrangement, or east-west also 10-15°. Since the rows of photovoltaic panels cast a shadow on each other, there must be a distance between the rows, it is not worth using an angle of inclination of 30-35°, because then there will be a lot of unused space on the roof (use row spacing every 1 meter). If a smaller pitch angle is used, the spacing between rows will also be smaller and more panels will fit on the same area, which will translate into higher production.
If the roof of the house does not meet the requirements for installation, the roof of a terrace, garage or even another outbuilding can be used as option B.
Setup
A photovoltaic system works optimally when the panels are positioned perpendicular to the sun's rays and are not shaded. Such ideal conditions are not many, so as professionals we are working on the possibilities.
As a rule, we do not install photovoltaic panels in shaded areas. If it is still necessary to install so many photovoltaic panels on the roof that some of them are in the shadow, in most cases you should use an optimizer (or plan the photovoltaic panels in a row so that the shaded panels are placed in one line, it depends on the location and the effect of the shadow). The optimizer helps reduce the negative effect of shadow.
Technical condition of the roof
We also encounter roofs in poor condition, which require minor repairs or replacement of the roofing before installation on the roof. If the roof is technically unsuitable and it takes too much time and money to repair it, then a ground-mounted solution can be considered.
Terrestrial installation
When to choose a ground-mounted solution? We usually see this in industrial facilities or properties where the roof structure is not suitable for the placement of solar panels. Its advantages include the fact that the installation is easier to expand, maintenance and cleaning of the panels is less complicated, and it is easier and faster to install.
A photovoltaic installation should be designed and sized according to the characteristics of the property, taking into account the environmental impact. The ideal state is almost nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, when designing newly built houses, the fact that there will be a photovoltaic installation on the roof is not taken into account, so it is important to choose a professional who will do the work, taking the above into account.
Looking for a contractor to install a photovoltaic system? You can count on our experts! Whether it's an installation for your home, business or farm, ask about our unique offer and fill out the survey!
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