Does my home qualify for solar power?
As more and more Australians look to reduce their power bill and carbon footprint, there has never been a better time to switch to solar power. If you’re looking into solar, there are a few considerations you need to take into account, namely if your house is the right fit for solar. Here’s what you need to know.
Roof direction
House location and orientation are key to getting optimum performance from solar panels. North-facing is the ideal orientation but in Australia, north east, north west or west facing roofs can also provide a high percentage of available power.
Roof tilt
The optimum tilt angle of the solar panels is 20 to 25 degrees. This is the standard angle of many rooves, but if you have a low angle or flat roof, there are adjustable tilt frames available that can bring panels up to ideal angle.
Shade
Solar powers naturally need sun light to generate energy so an unshaded roof is necessary. Australia captures one of the highest hours of sunlight in the world, especially in summer and spring where there’s an average of seven to eight hours of sunshine per day. So if you’re roof gets sun between 9am and 3pm your home is suitable for solar. Even roofs with partial shade no longer pose a major issue to solar panels like it did a few years ago. There are now panels that work in low-light conditions.
Roof space and strength
Is your roof big enough for solar panels? For the 1.5kW system, considered as the entry point for grid connect, you will need at least 15 square metres. A higher system will need more space. You also need to consider if your roof is strong enough to support solar panels and racking, which can be determined by speaking to a provider.
Related links:
Top 5 energy efficient ways to keep your house warm this winter
Why retirement marks the perfect time to switch to solar energy
Five ways to make your solar power go EVEN further