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Installing North facing PV panels

  • 05-11-2024 09:04AM
    #1
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 12,680 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I'm not advocating this, but I am seeing quite a bit of it lately.

    Am I correct it assuming that this is simply an installer trying to maximise their profit?



Comments

  • Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 7,102 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk


    Generally not, most discourage it, well the ones here that have had north installed have found out.

    there's a few here with north panels as it was the only remaining roof space.

    North panels over a year produce about 50% of what south panels produce. (And in cloudy weather they produce the same as all other directions)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,821 ✭✭✭✭the_amazing_raisin


    It's not the worst idea in the world. If you're covering the rest of the roof then adding a few panels on the north side won't add much extra cost

    They obviously won't produce nearly as much as other aspects but should add some extra export income in summer

    "The internet never fails to misremember" - Sebastian Ruiz, aka Frost



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,646 ✭✭✭SD_DRACULA


    North panels are a bonus basically, I wouldn't go just for them as the primary source but if the rest of the roof is full, they certainly help.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,009 ✭✭✭✭Cuddlesworth


    For me, the install cost per panel was about 50% over just south panels. Eg, 9 panels on the south was 5.8k and 10 panels on the rear was another 3.2k to install in addition. So half the return was reasonable.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,295 ✭✭✭lau1247


    I had 5 panels facing North East, I know it won't produce much but the cost to add them were not too much (1K extra) and it made sense for me since the South West side of the roof was maxed out.

    Unless you can get it quite cheap, it might not make sense.

    West Dublin, ☀️ 7.83kWp ⚡5.66 kWp South West, ⚡2.18 kWp North East



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 791 ✭✭✭conor_mc


    I added them to my initial install, was quite happy with generation/payback over summer, as expected. I wouldn’t do a primary install north-facing, nor would I add them later, but it’ll never be cheaper than when you’ve already got the guys on your roof and the main array is justifying the inverter costs, etc.

    Fwiw, installer wasn’t keen, it was all my idea but pvgis data convinced me it was worth it.



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 18,289 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    It all depends, they are not worth it standalone but in a few years time when FIT is not worth talking about they will be great through the summer months to divert to heat the water in the early AM

    My stuff on Adverts, mostly Tesla Pre Highland Model 3

    Public Profile active ads for slave1



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 791 ✭✭✭conor_mc


    tbh, I think FiT will change but time-of-use is likely to come along with it, so either exporting at the right time or avoiding import at the wrong time will continue to sustain payback rates, particularly for those with batteries.



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