Overview
- Proper mounting and installation are crucial to maximizing solar energy production.
- Poor installation can lead to decreased efficiency, reduced energy output, and lower savings.
- Solar panels can be installed in various locations beyond traditional rooftops.
- Exploring alternative placements for solar panels includes ground installations for homeowners with ample space, pergolas or awnings for shade and property aesthetics, walls or facades for sustainable architecture, and water installations such as floatovoltaics on lakes and reservoirs.
- Solaric offers guidance and expertise in finding the right placement for your solar panels.
Embracing solar energy brings a multitude of benefits, ranging from environmental advantages to savings on utility bills. But sometimes poorly mounting solar panels or incorrect installation reduces energy production efficiency. These can result in decreased energy output, ultimately impacting the system’s overall performance and potentially leading to lower energy savings for the owner.
Thus, this can often lead people who would want to adopt solar energy to question “Where else can I put solar panels?” if they don’t have enough space on their roof or planning to maximize other areas to position their solar panels optimally to capture sunlight effectively. Fortunately, there’s no need to compromise on aesthetics, treat this as your guide to finding the right placements.
Ground
Your solar panels do not always need to be above ground. In certain cases, they may be better if they are installed on the ground. Homeowners that tend to choose this option are those with ample space. This can be a large front or back yard, an old garden, or an unused driveway. It is also a good alternative when your roof is too sloped for solar panel setup.
When your equipment is on the ground, you have direct access to it. This makes them easier to adjust and maintain when needed. It also means that lodging them in place will not be any hassle. Reducing the factor of height makes the installment process safer.
Pergolas or Awnings
If the roof over your house is not an option, there are other similar structures that you use. Pergolas and awnings are like the common roof. While it does not completely protect you from the elements, it does give you enough shade for the sun or rain.
Installing your solar panels on these placements allows you to fully maximize your ground space. Having them just above ground helps in hiding the structure. This helps maintain the aesthetics of your property.
However, there are many solar panels now that are designed to have double use. They are developed to replace the usual material for pergolas and awnings.
Walls or Facades
In the advancement of architecture, sustainable designs are more and more incorporated into blueprints. Whether it is for commercial or residential use, many individuals make it a point that greener choices are possible in structures. To contribute to the fight against the carbon emissions of traditional energy sources, solar panels are now developed to be mounted on extremely upright placements.
Adding this equipment to your walls gives you another alternative. This is advisable for facades to get a lot of sun exposure. Properties with ample space in the south, west, and east directions are ideal. With solar panels on your walls, it does not only give you an aesthetic appeal. It also offers an optimized solution for harvesting the powers of the sun.
Water
Furthering away from land, solar panels are versatile in their installation. It only takes the right supplier and installer for the job. If you do not have ample space on land, you can consider using floating solar panels on water. This includes lakes, reservoirs, and ponds. Also known as floatovoltaics, installing this kind of solar panel are beneficial. Their main advantage is that it cools easily. With the help of water, the equipment can cool quicker, enabling them to work more efficiently, especially in hot conditions.
The setup of this kind of solar panel is either stationary mounts or moveable platforms. Although the equipment is usually made out of metal, floating solar panels are designed to be water-resistant. This also means that they are corrosion-resistant gear, increasing the durability of your tools.
South Korea, for instance, has the Geumjeon floating solar power plant, and Japan and China are following suit. In 2017 alone, 100 MW of floating PV was installed worldwide, and a major project is set for construction in Indonesia in 2019.
Key Takeaway
This article answered, “Where else can I put solar panels?” It has given five possible placements for your equipment. Learning the different locations for solar panel installation is important. In your journey of finding the right location for your solar panels, contact us at Solaric, your trusted partner for the job. We can help you navigate the right placements of your equipment.