What You Need to Know Before Installing Your PV System
Solar Energy technologies have seen incredible development over the last years, which has lowered their prices and made them more affordable. Therefore, more people every day are looking to install solar energy systems on their roofs. Installing solar panels is a wonderful way to reduce your electricity bills and save money while taking care of the environment. Regardless there are several factors that play a role in the performance and financial results of a PV system.
It Doesn’t Need to Be Warm for PV Systems to Work
Often it is inferred that solar energy systems are tied to warm weather and as such that cold days reduce production levels.
It’s true that the more solar radiation reaches the PV modules, the more energy is produced. Regardless, solar modules work better in cold climates. Their efficiency goes up and electricity production increases significantly. Furthermore, the solar cells also work with indirect radiation – ambient or scattered light.
Solar Energy Systems Need to Be Installed by Experts
Even when it seems like a simple task, installing a PV system demands that the electricians in charge have experience in dealing with electrical installations. Wiring and measuring are high-risk tasks, and it is important to follow safety standards and protocols.
Your Roof Shape and Orientation Matter
Depending on your location, the orientation of your roof can affect the power production of a PV system. If you are in the north, it is ideal if one of the sides of the roof faces south and the opposite for southern buildings.
Depending on the material and shape of the roof, different types of mounting structures may be used. Furthermore, it’s important that you consider the structural strength, the conditions in which the roof is, and if it needs maintenance very soon. The latter may affect the costs due to dismantling and installing the system again after the maintenance on the roof. Other practical considerations are also needed, for example, the water drainage system.
It’s Important to Understand the Electricity Market
One of the benefits of installing solar PV systems is that you can sell the electricity surplus to the grid when the building demand is covered. However, the price at which this surplus can be sold varies from country to country and could also vary by city depending on the energy provider in the cases of deregulated markets. Furthermore, this price could also change depending on the amount of energy that is being fed to the grid. Naturally, these changes affect the payback time and return of investment of solar PV systems, and it is very relevant to understand the price schemes of your city.
Solar Energy Systems Are Low Maintenance Systems
Most conventional energy systems are based on turbines and some other moving parts that require a lot of maintenance because of friction among other physical phenomena. Since solar energy systems lack these moving parts, the requirements in terms of recurring maintenance are very low if the electrical parameters stay within the operating conditions. The latter decreases the operating costs of the PV systems significantly.
Measure and Analyze the Energy Demand of the Building
It is very important to determine your energy consumption and how this energy is used. This information is used to determine how many solar panels are needed and how much energy of the total demand can be covered by the green solution. Understanding the electricity consumption and your individual goals will provide insightful information about the most efficient and cost-effective PV system, for example, the tilt and orientation of the solar panels.
Understand the Legal Framework of Your Country
To promote solar energy, several countries have placed incentives and benefits for those who install PV systems either in their private homes, company buildings, or agricultural businesses. Some examples are the investment subsidies and the feed-in tariff schemes, among others. Considering these policies can help you decide whether your PV systems make financial sense or not.
