All you need to know before installing rooftop solar

India has finally started to adopt rooftop solar as a dependable source of power for homes, offices and industries. A cumulative 4.4 GW of rooftop solar was installed by India at the end of 2019, which was a jump of 72% from the previous year. This rise in popularity of rooftop solar power in India is mainly because it is cost-effective and economical, and also because of the changing consumer behaviour that is increasingly moving towards a cleaner source of energy.

 

When people decide to install rooftop solar, they are often unaware of the technology and mostly confused as to what is the procedure and its benefits. Thus, here is a list of things you should know before installing a rooftop solar panel.

 

1.    Is the roof suitable for solar?

As roofs vary in size from structure to structure, it is important to ensure that your roof has enough space to install solar panels that can fulfill your power needs. It is also necessary to check that your roof is not covered in shade most of the day as it would not be favourable for generation. It is also favourable to have a south facing roof with no obstacles as solar panels tend to generate more electricity when facing in that direction. And last but not the least, see if your roof is strong enough to support the panels.

2.    How much electricity do you consume every day?

Every household consumes a different amount of energy. For less energy you might require fewer solar panels, and hence, it is important to know the average electricity consumption of your household so that you can install sufficient panels to provide electricity for the whole house.

 

3.    What kind of solar to install?

There are two dominant solar technologies available in the market:

●     Photovoltaic - In this technology, arrays of cells are used to turn sunlight into electricity.

●     Thermal - In this technology, sunlight is used to heat water or air for inside use.

 Based on your needs you can choose from either of these technologies.

 

4.    Cost range

The most common thing that worries potential buyers is the cost range. There are many manufacturers of solar panels in the market, but to obtain a really good panel in an affordable price range gets really difficult when there are so many options. Hence, it is extremely important to research about the different types of solar panels and their capacity before installing it, as it is a one time investment which helps in saving money over the long run.

 

5.    Servicing & Maintenance

The life of a solar panel is around 25 years. This is because it has no moving parts or electronics that could be affected by rust or breakdown and it requires minimum maintenance. Here are a few things you need to do to maintain a rooftop solar panel:

 

●     Clean the panels every 2 weeks so that it can perform efficiently

●     Keep the panels out of shade if you have constantly growing trees

●     Keep an eye on the solar panels and see that the inverter is flashing green light

●     Document day to day performance to improve solar panel maintenance

 

Buy reliable equipment from a genuinely certified supplier and opt for a setup that is secured with a warranty period.

 

The prices of solar technology have fallen drastically over the years and with one time installation, almost no maintenance, long term saving and environmental benefits it is the best power source to opt for.