Assessing your home for Solar Photovoltaics (PV)

Assessing the suitability of Solar Photovoltaics (PV) for your home

Before you call the solar photovoltaic solutions provider, you can conduct a quick/ basic assessment of the suitability of PV for your home. So, here is a quick look at the various factors that you should consider while making such an assessment.

1. Appropriate space that is sufficiently exposed to sunlight: Since intensity of sunlight is an important factor in determining the effectiveness of photovoltaic solar panels, it is important that your home receives appropriate sunlight. Typically, the solar panels would be deployed on the roof because it is generally un-shaded, but you could as well install the PV panels on ground or elsewhere. So, look for a place that satisfies the following conditions:

   i. Receives unobstructed sunlight

   ii. Remains exposed to sunlight throughout the day

   iii. Faces south (i.e. south-east or south-west orientation)

   iv. The area is large enough to host the large solar photovoltaic systems

2. Roof Condition: Since the solar panels will cover a large area of the roof, your roof condition should be in a good state prior to any installation.
3. Your solar electricity requirements: This is again an important consideration since the size of solar photovoltaic panels is dependent on the amount of solar electricity you want to generate. You might want to use solar electricity to fulfil a certain percentage of your electricity requirements.