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Siting and System Design
While the macro-siting of a solar energy system may have as much or more to do with policies and incentives as it does with a geographic region’s climate and latitude (see resource assessment section) energy production effects of micro-siting cannot be overstated. It may seem obvious, but shading is the most important factor in siting solar panels! Particularly for photovoltaic panels, a small amount of shading can have a substantial negative impact on energy production.
Initial assessment of your solar access includes evaluating locations where panels would have south-facing exposure. Based on technology currently available, photovoltaic panels generally require approximately 100 square feet per kilowatt of installed capacity. This rule of thumb changes depending on the type of mounting, tracking, and efficiency of the solar panels used. The system design should take into account all factors that impact energy production. The annual effects of shading, tilt, and orientation can be evaluated using some type of sun path diagram. The “Solar Pathfinder” is one product available that combines the sun path diagram with a reflective dome, allowing for one to trace objects that might cause shade over the course of a year. This type of analysis is a simple, yet important, way to predict the ability of a system to perform at different times during different months.
The following topics are discussed in greater detail on the following pages:
