For many people the idea of planning where to locate their solar panels would seem ridiculous. To all intents and purposes it seems simple, just install them on the roof and start collecting solar energy. However, in reality, choosing the correct location, orientation and type of solar panel to be used, is vital to getting the most out of your system. If the solar panels are located in a less than optimal position, you may be losing efficiency and therefore money.

The first consideration when deciding where to place your solar panels, is clear access to sunlight. In a domestic installation, where there is only one main building, this may be on the roof. You may be able to make this assessment yourself, by checking the location at different times throughout the day. A good rule of thumb, is that your solar panels will need at least five hours of uninterrupted sunlight per day, to operate at maximum efficiency. Make a note of any factors that could prevent sunlight reaching your solar panel. If there are nearby roof lines, flag poles, trees or other tall obstructions, how do they effect your location at different times of the day? It’s important to note that only 10% of shade on a solar panel can reduce the output by up to 80%. If you need a more in depth analysis of the location that you’re considering, a good solar electric provider will be able to do this for you.

Another factor to consider is the orientation or direction of your location. This in part will be determined by whether the location is on a pitched roof or a flat roof or other flat area. The best direction to face is South when the roof is located in the northern hemisphere and vice versa in the southern hemisphere. Solar panels that are faced to the East and West can still be effective, but on average they will generate 20% less electricity. If the location is flat, the solar panels can be mounted facing straight up, but they will be less effective. It’s a better idea to house the panels on a frame that is orientated to the South, at an angle of 20 degrees up to 60 degrees. The exact degree of tilt required will vary with each installation and will require some experimentation or the advice of a professional to get right. Once the angle is set correctly, there should only be a variation of around 5% annually due to changing seasons and the Earth’s axial tilt.

It will be important when scouting out a potential site, to make sure that there is enough space, for the solar panels that you would like to install. The amount of space required is entirely dependent on the size and type of system that you need. The great thing about a system of this kind is that it’s modular in nature. As long as you have enough space for expansion, solar panels can be added at a later date to expand your system. If you feel that you may need more power later, it’s a good idea to take any extra space that may be required into account. A smaller solar panel system in an area with a lot of sunlight, will generate more power that a larger system in a lot of shade. An average home usually uses 60 cell solar panels and has from 2kW up to 4kW systems installed. As a general rule of thumb, every 1kW of a system may require 5 solar panels covering an area of a least 80 square feet. Obviously larger systems would require more space than this, but this is a good benchmark.

If roof space is limited or a more efficient system is required, there are a few options to consider that may assist the homeowner. There are two main types of solar panel in general production, there are 60 cell and 72 cell models. In general 60 cell models are used in domestic installations, they are cheaper and generate less electricity. The 72 cell models are usually used in industrial applications, they cost more to purchase, but they generate more electricity and they are more efficient for their size. If money is less of a consideration, a 72 cell solar panel could be installed domestically, this would make the system more efficient for a smaller surface area. If there is still not enough space on the roof, solar panels can still be installed in alternate locations. The module can be mounted on a pole that can be fixed in location, or at a greater cost it can track the movement of the sun for maximum efficiency. If there are window awnings, covered walkways, garage roofs or canopies available, solar panels can be mounted there, if they are structurally strong enough. This technology is constantly evolving, future solar panels could be very different to what we’re using now. As an example, there are some recent installations of solar panels in public buildings, that have been built directly into the window panes, but at the moment these would be prohibitively expensive for many private individuals.