As more people look to the skies for some reprieve of their power bills, many are finding they don’t quite have the right roof space for solar or are forced to choose either an east or west direction for installation.
We often get asked ‘Would you choose east or west?’ and it is met with an answer requiring more information. On each home there is a better side but it depends on all the other factors and circumstances for that property.
The East
The eastern side has the following benefits –
- Cooler overall throughout the year
- Usually less cloud cover or storm activity dispersing the sunlight
- Typically less power used in an 6 hour period in the morning then in the afternoon so power can be exported back into the grid
- Mildly less insulation in the air (dust, pollution, etc) to allow a greater clarity of light
The West
The western side is often perceived as the preferable side and for solar hot water systems this is definitely so. Solar power on the other hand still has to measured up against all the surrounding factors as well –
Western benefits include –
- Greater light density and strength in the afternoon
- In coastal areas – cooling sea breezes for module ventilation
- Instantaneous powering up of the panels and inverter for maximum power production
Both east and west solar directions should be assessed for possible shading issues, space requirements if upgrading the system in the future and impacts from other weather factors specific to your region.
If installation a larger system (3-4kW and above) there may be the option to spilt the array over two roofs and get the best of both. By producing power across the day – you are increasing the chance to feed power back into the mains grid and maximize your return on investment. With any investment into a larger residential system, matching a high quality and reputable brand inverter is vital to getting the most back from your investment and ensuring the highest amount of kilowatt hours produced each and everyday.
No matter what space on your roof you are considering, preference is obviously given to any Northern aspect available – This is because in the southern hemisphere the equator is to the north and this presents the longest hours of sunlight available each season. It’s for this reason that, if you have limited northern roof available and are looking at both solar hot water and solar power, we recommend you install a tubular solar hot water system on the east or west and let the solar power take preference to get the most out of the system. This solution allows both systems to work at their optimum and utilize the space to its maximum.
So no matter what problem you are faced with regarding roof directions and pitch – make sure you receive comprehensive information regarding what’s possible and obtain a full onsite inspection from solar professionals.
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