Is my home suitable for Solar PV?
Solar Photovoltaic
Most homes in the UK are suitable for a Solar PV system but the amount of electricity generated by a Solar PV system can also vary depending on where you live. There are a few things you need to think about and consider when researching solar energy for your home.
Quick guide to a perfect roof
Each installation will generate differing amounts of kWh over a year. You can see the best roof example from the table below.
Solar PV Orientation and tilt
Your roof should ideally face due south at a pitched angle of between 30° and 50° from the horizontal to give the best overall annual performance. Installations facing anywhere to the south of due east and due west are feasible, although output will be reduced. Installation is not recommended on roofs facing north.
Shape of roof area
Solar PV arrays are made up of modules of about 1.6m2 which allows most available roof shapes to be accommodated. Typical UK installations are around 10m2 to 20m2. For example a 3kWp system could comprise 12 panels taking up an area of 20m2 and will generate roughly 2400kWh per annum.
Shading
Any shading has a detrimental effect on the electricity your system generates. Shading may come from trees, chimneys or surrounding buildings. Shading is a very important factor in the solar PV output. However, if your panels are partially shaded in the early morning or late evening, the system will still generate acceptable yields.
We will assess and highlight any shading concerns and give a realistic electricity generation potential. Solar panels only need light to work and will still function on cloudy days but you will generate approximately 15%of the energy on a cloudy day as on a sunny day at the same time of year.
Seasonal performance – energy generation by month
The chart below shows a typical seasonal spread of energy generation for an average system of 2.2kWp facing south. The winter months generate significantly less electricity compared to the summer months.