Continued... Cost
Despite a high initial cost, Solar PV is a sound investment. Long-term savings can easily offset the initial costs of installing a system. Once in place, the system will continue to generate energy with very little added expense.
Roof Layout
PV arrays are made up of modules of around 1m x 1.6m and as such can be arranged to fit on most roof layouts. With regards to size, a roof area of around 20m2 could accommodate a system able to generate 50% of an average households electricity requirement.
Shading
Shading should be avoided where possible. Shading even on one module (panel) acts as a resister to the whole system and can significantly reduce the systems output. However, shading between 10am and 4pm could have a serious impact on performance and would question the viability of an installation. It should be noted though that with good system design and planning many shading issues can be overcome. In a situation where shading cannot be avoided, the use of micro-inverters can vastly reduce its impact.Â
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