Note to Grand Designs: “Do your bloody homework!”
Today’s top solar tip:
Please don’t look to Kevin McCloud or Grand Designs for advice on solar power!
Now don’t get me wrong, I love Kevin McCloud, he seems like a top bloke. And Grand Designs is one of the few things I actually watch occasionally on the gogglebox.
But they really need to do their research when it comes to solar.
The UK episode on ABC1 last week showed that they don’t have a freaking clue about solar power. [Read more...]
Should you point your solar panels North so that you get the maximum power from them?
Not necessarily…let me explain:
And here’s the transcript if you prefer reading: [Read more...]
Here’s a very common question that comes in to SQ HQ.
“My roofline is North/South, so my roof areas face either East or West. I know North Facing is ideal, but I don’t have a North facing roof! Should I put my solar panels on the East or West Facing roof (or both) ?”
Short Answer: Probably West
Longer Answer: In terms of the amount of power produced, facing your panels East will produce exactly the same amount of power as facing them West. In either case you’ll generally take a 10-15% power hit compared to having them facing the ideal direction (North).
Is North always the best direction for solar panels?
So why do I say “probably West” as the short answer to the question?
Well, the reason I err on the West facing roof is because that part of your roof will get the sun later in the day. An East Facing solar array will generally produce its peak power at 10-11am. A West Facing array will produce its peak at closer to 2pm.
Most people use more energy later in the day. And most people want to use as much of their solar energy as possible, without exporting it. Why? Because at the time of writing most Feed In Tariffs give you less per kWh if you export the electricity than you pay for imported electricity. So most people will pay off their solar system quicker if they minimise exports.
Finn Peacock (RSS) (126)
Rich Bowden (RSS) (103)
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