Solar Panel Potential

algray

Hello all,

I hope you might be able to help me – I’m looking for advice on a property I don’t yet own to assess its potential for solar panels. The property is in NW England, and although the property is south-facing, the roof is, well, let me show you….

This is the south-facing rear.

The estate agent's drone shot.

The satellite image of the roof from Google.

Clearly, the roof design isn’t ideal for solar panels, but I'd welcome any expert insight into the property's potential for solar panels? I’m not looking for anything more than an opinion and appreciate that a more detailed site survey etc would be needed if I bought the property.

Many thanks.

subjecttocontract

A couple of things to consider.

Normally panels are best located facing South or East. When you say the property is South facing you don't say if that's the front of rear of the property.

There seems to be a lot of trees at the front & some at the rear which may affect solar production.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82067469#Comment_82067469

Rear of property is south-facing

kipsterno1

I can't tell from the satellite image but how big is the garden? Is there scope for a ground mounted system?

QrizB

Well, the good news is that you've got a lot of roof to choose from! I can see usable south, East and west-facing aspects rhere.

Less good is that much of it is going to be shaded by other parts of roof for at least some of the day. However if you fit enough panels to enough aspects you'll potentially have some of them producing electricity from dawn until dusk.

If your budget will stretch to it, consider putting panels on all six E/W aspects and also on the largest (central) S-facing aspect.

(You've also got a lot of south-facing glazing which risks being unbearably warm in hot summers and will need a lot of winter heating. I guess the intended buyer for a property like this will have deep enough pockets that the heating/cooling bills won't trouble them.)

algray

The garden is large, but mostly wooded, and the little there isn't wooded, I'd like to use either as wildflower patch and vegetable patch.

Screwdriva

This is quite the atypical roof but the potential is good because of the aspects involved (South, West, East).

Before I share the recommended approach to take, may I ask:

1) What do you expect the annual consumption would be in KWh?

2) Is or will a heat pump be used for any heating?

3) Any aesthetic restrictions (eg. I don't want panels on every aspect)?

Martyn1981

My thoughts, similar to QrizB, is that you have a huge amount of roof space that is reasonable. Might not be ideal, but brawn over brain is absolutely fine.

Also, looks to me like no scaffolding is needed, just some ladders / platforms, and then workers can walk about easily/safely over most of the large flat roof(s). That helps quite a bit with costs, and complications.

Some clarification on the orientation would be helpful, maybe just a Google pic, so we know exactly as that should be orientated N at top. Only ask as the more normal pitched roofs on either side may be good for PV on both sides, of both, or only on the 'better' side. But that's just fussing/polishing.

Also, as it's so big just wondering if it's single or three phase electric supply? Probably single, but may help with going super big on the PV, and even car charging potential.

PS - Ok, I'm a bit biased, but the roof colour and the black framed windows, suggest to me, that nicely laid out black PV panels would look really nice, especially if symmetrical. Not that you look at your own roof that much, I suppose.

QrizB

Some clarification on the orientation would be helpful, maybe just a Google pic, so we know exactly as that should be orientated N at top.

The final image in the OP is from Google which would usually mean north = up. The shadows are consistent with that orientation.

Martyn1981

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82067557#Comment_82067557

Yep, but I was really struggling with that image, maybe just me, so hoping for another.

Nice house and roof though …… and ideal, perhaps for A2A units too. 😋

algray

The house has recently been extended, and Google Maps shows the older roof, so that last one is from Google Earth, so N is top. Not even sure about the annual consumption - the EPC hasn't been updated since the house was completely renovated and extended, and it currently states the property is 'F'. However, it predates the modernisation, and I can clearly see that it would now be at least a C, possibly a B.

I'm considering the potential to purchase, add solar, batteries and an air-source heat pump (wet underfloor heating throughout) to try to get it to an A rating. It already has a Tesla home charger. A2A heating is another consideration, given that the glass will act as a greenhouse, as stated. And ofc A2A could offer air-conditioning.

The trees looked and felt sufficiently far away not to affect the solar potential much, except maybe during the first and last hours of dawn and dusk.