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Solar panels on roof not facing south?

  • 12-12-2011 7:18pm
    #1
    Bricriu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 291 ✭✭


    Is there anybody out there who could tell me roughly how much of a loss of energy I would suffer by locating Solar Panels on a non-south-facing roof, i.e. my gable-end faces south, so the panels would have to be installed on both east-facing and west-facing part of roof (40 degree slope)?

    Would there be other options, like mounting panels on a frame in the garden?

    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    bbam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,410 ✭✭✭bbam


    We have 5.75Sq Meters of flat panels, they face WSW..
    We find that we rarely have to supplement them with the immersion during the summer when the oil is off, probably 7-8 months ... By rarely I'd guess three/four times over the past summer, less the previous year.
    We always have a full tank of hot water, unless the kids run it out..:rolleyes:


  • #3
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    Bricriu wrote: »
    Is there anybody out there who could tell me roughly how much of a loss of energy I would suffer by locating Solar Panels on a non-south-facing roof, i.e. my gable-end faces south, so the panels would have to be installed on both east-facing and west-facing part of roof (40 degree slope)?

    Would there be other options, like mounting panels on a frame in the garden?

    Thanks.
    yes mount them in the garden or support them independently by getting creative! they could be incorporated into a walkway or covered patio etc


  • #4
    pljudge321
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,129 ✭✭✭pljudge321


    Stick your values in here and have a look.

    http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/apps4/pvest.php#


  • #5
    bbam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,410 ✭✭✭bbam


    BryanF wrote: »
    yes mount them in the garden or support them independently by getting creative! they could be incorporated into a walkway or covered patio etc
    I've seen a few sets of panels up on stands and in gardens... They always look pants and I'd fear would be easily broken... IMHO if they are not in the plane of the roof they look terrible..


  • #6
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    bbam, i agree re garden, but were dealing with an east west roof which is not suitable for sp's. i'm suggesting the op gets some clever design work done, to incorporate them into something architectural, perhaps a walkway roof cover or part of a pergola.


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  • #7
    Bricriu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 291 ✭✭Bricriu


    Thanks for all advice.

    Bricriu


  • #8
    SolarHome
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7 ✭SolarHome


    I have been installing panels for many years and regularly come on roofs which have an east west orientation. I never opt for the east/west option, this is because you rarely have a perfectly east west orientation (generally 1 of the roofs will have an orientation closer to south than the other). What we generally do is put all the panels on the roof that is closest too south and compensate for the poor orientation with an additional panel.
    For peace of mind for both ourselves and the home owner we also do a computer software simulation with the parameters specific to the house (i.e. exact orientation, roof pitch, number of occupants and hot water cylinder volume). This gives you the % of hot water that the system will generate for this particular set of parameters.
    We have also installed panels on frames in gardens and courtyards the only watch for these installations is the spec of the components used to insure that you get the return from the system. In my experience the time taken to install panels in courtyards will have a knock on effect in relation to labour cost.


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