No two rooftops will ever be the same but there are certain key characteristics of rooftops suitable for solar installations that are easy to identify. If you are currently weighing up whether to have solar panels installed on your house then you should check the following things before arranging a consultation.
The Size of your Roof – Firstly, you will likely need a roof that is at least 12m square in size. That 12m square should also be clear of any vents, velum windows or chimneys.
The Orientation of your Roof – The closer your roof is to the south, the greater the amount of electricity it will be able to generate, so obviously the ideal rooftop is one that faces SE / S / SW and the least effective will be one that faces NE / N / NW.
The Angle of your Roof – The first thing to check is whether your roof is sloped or flat. A flat roof can still have photovoltaic panels but will most likely need planning permission. The best kind of roof is a sloped roof. If you have a sloped roof the optimum angle is somewhere between 30 to 35 degrees with a minimum angle of 15 degrees so that the panels can self-clean. ON the flip side the maximum angle is about 50 degrees – go any steeper than this and there is significant performance loss.
The Shading Around your Roof – It is ok to have a bit of shade but if trees or other buildings cause too much shading then naturally you are not going to earn as much money.
The Freehold on your Roof – Lastly, it is important that you are the sole freeholder of the property and roof so that the electricity generated and the responsibility for that electricity are down to you.
