Here’s a question we sometimes get about solar panel placement:
“I have great open exposure on my roof – no trees or anything to cast a shadow. But it doesn’t face south. Can I have solar on an east/west facing roof?”
The answer is, Yes, you can have solar on an east or west facing roof. However, it’s not ideal. East or west facing solar panels absorb about 80% of the solar energy as south facing panels. You can expect your system to cost somewhat more in this situation. Here are some options for solar panel placement when your roof faces east or west:
- Increasing solar collector area. If space allows, the simplest solution is to add more solar panels (or use larger collectors) to make up in total area what you’re losing in panel efficiency.
- Creative roof mounting strategies. It’s possible to mount south-facing solar panels on an east or west roof. However the racking required to do this may add significantly to the cost of the installation.
- Side-mounting your solar panels on a south wall. this can work very nicely if you have unobstructed solar exposure on the south wall of your building and don’t mind the appearance of solar panels there. Again, it’s likely to add to the cost of your solar installation.
- Ground mounting your solar collectors. Ground mounting is less expensive than elaborate racking and has the added advantage of making the solar panels more accessible for snow removal when necessary.
- Mounting the panels on a nearby building. Panels may be installed on a south-facing garage or outbuilding on the property. A popular option is to incorporate the panels into a small, attractive storage shed in the yard.
As you can see, having an east or west facing home is no reason to give up your dream of a solar home. There are plenty of options to work around the situation. The first step is to have a qualified solar consultant take a look and make recommendations based on your unique needs. If you’re located within 200 miles of Wausau, WI, give us a call and we’ll get started!