Theoretically speaking, shouldn't all rooftops be able to have solar panels on them?

Question

There's all that extra space up there.

Answer 1

Well, theoretically yes.  However, man's instinct is to be greedy.  So, composite shingles are cheap and thus this is why many homes have them.  They are the worst for solar panels and water collection.

Another thing to think about.  Would you cut down the trees to install solar panels?   If trees were tall enough to shade the entire roof, then they would not work.  There would be no use for them.

Answer 2

Theoretically, yes. Practically, solar panels are much too expensive.

Answer 3

No!!  Not all roofs can have solar panels on them.  They need to be the proper angle (if they are not a flat roof), and be in the sun for most of the day.  If there are trees or tall buildings blocking the sun they will not be effective.  In cold climates they don't work because the snow prevents the sun from getting to the panels.  In places where there is smog the panels need to be cleaned often for them to be working at their best.

Answer 4

Yes, theoretically.

In future if manufacturing cost of Solar Panels goes down enough then all shingles could be made of Solar Panels and if it goes down further then even walls could be made of Solar Panels.

Most probably that's never going to happen. We will just have a huge solar panels in space which will harvest solar energy much more efficiently and at very low cost.

Answer 5

it is true that if there are many trees surrounding the house, there is no use of the solar panels. however if the roofs are not fully covered by the trees, these solar panels may still provide some energy to be used, but of course it is only wise to do that when the price of solar panels has decreased.

besides that, it is unwise to cut down trees just for the sake of solar energy. i am sure there are many other places where few trees are present.

Answer 6

omg this question is a great question yes yes yes it should that would be the perfect way to go green or help slow down global warming i just love people that care about the environment and really try to find out ways how to help and i think that all homes that are newlly built should take on the whole solar panel thing on the roof top thery should also do the solar energy panels to conserve water and less on a water bill

Answer 7

Theoretically yes. But it wouldn't do a l**k of good putting a solar panel on a roof that's at the wrong angle in relation to the sun's direction or say in a polar region where it's dark 6 months a year.

Answer 8

Of course, but practically you would need it to be cost-efficient.  You can find a map of the solar resource for the US here http://www.nrel.gov/gis/images/us_csp_an...

Answer 9

Yes, it is a matter of how effective the panels will be. The current technology requires direct sunlight to create electricity. So, if the orientation only allows a few hours of direct sunlight or it there are any objects that will create a shadow on any part of the panels the efficiency is greatly reduced.