Determining solar power feasibility?

Question

The roof of our house has excellent southern exposure, but our yard has many tall trees, so it's not obvious whether there's enough total sunlight to make solar panels worthwhile. What's the best way to find out?

Answer 1

There are many solar web sites that will come to your home and do a free evaluation. Solar will still produce electricity in the shade. Just not quite as much.

Answer 2

In some cases, people are willing to thin trees ---or reduce the thickness of tree limbs to increase sunlight.  You need to decide what you are willing to do as regards your own trees.  The next decision is selecting the type of solar panel you want to use, since performance varies with the type of panel. I suggest you first talk with the Real Goods technical staff about their PV (solar) panel options.  They are skilled in the PV arts.

Answer 3

The highest solar radiation is between the hours of 9:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. so make sure that sun light is on the south side of the house during these hours.  If the roof of the house is exposed to the sun during these hours it would be worth going solar.

Likewise, solar panels don't necessarily have to go on the roof of the house, they also can be placed on the ground on mounting racks.

Good Luck

Answer 4

I think you have a good question,ive always wanted to a way 2 save energy .         also great feed back.

Answer 5

go to www:jointhesolution.com/sagebgreenenergy and there is a calculator on there you can use.

Answer 6

you most likely will have to remove any treee that shades the solar area.  Currently expect about a 22 year pay back on the panels  whuch have a 25-28 year life span.

Answer 7

You better be very careful here. Buying solar panels now is like home renovations. Anybody and everybody will tell you they will work even in minimal sunlight. Truth is the technology just isn't perfected yet. The slightest shadow over a small area will cancel out even the collectors in the sun. This is due to the wiring cell to cell. Shop around. Make them prove what they say they will do before you writ the check. Being a Savoy shopper is just as important as being eco-friendly.

Answer 8

Have a local solar firm do an evaluation.

Someone like this:

http://www.planitsolar.com/

Answer 9

Solar plants for individual homes arent econommically fesable.  At the current market price they will not pay for themselves in your lifetime.  Unless you live in death valley.

If you want to save money invest overseas US markets are crashing and expected to continue.

However if you just want to look all "green" then go ahead.  Youll do your part reducing co2 emmisions.  Although holding your breath would be more effective.

Answer 10

go look at where the shadows are, between 12 and 3, or so.

if your roof is in the shade, that's probably not good.

alternatively, people wanting to sell you solar panels can tell.

keep in mind, they'll give you the most optimistic estimate.

in addition, keep in mind that in December, shadows that today are on the side of the house under that roof, will be on the roof, because the sun is lower in the sky at noon.

Answer 11

the tress have to go sadly enough, try the yellow pages

Answer 12

Borrow one solar panel and put it up. (your local solar dealer will often be willing to loan you one for a week if you explain why you want it.) Measure the amount of power it produces once an hour for a week of average weather. Compare the measured value to the rated value. Take this to your data to your solar power dealer and ask him if it's typical. This gives you real data to work with.

Contrary to popular belief, solar panels work anywhere there is even moderate sunshine. If your area has 20% less sun, you just put up 20% more panels.

Once you know how many panels you need, you'll be able to determine the cost.

Easy.

Answer 13

Most solar installers have this great little gadget that looks like 1/2 of a sphere. They can place it on the roof and it will tell you how many hours of daylight you will get at each location for the entire year. When they did my layout they avoided putting the panels near the chimney, it would shade them late in the day. They can tell you what specific obsticals will reduce production and for how many hours in a day, for each month of the year. They should also be able to tell you how much you may need to trim tree tops to get maximum efficiency.

In CA we have a law that gives priority for renewable energy over the rights of the trees. Unfortunately enforcing the law usually makes you an unpopular neighbour.