2) What are the maintenance requirements?
3) How long do solar panels last?
4) Best placement of a solar panel system?
5) How much room do solar panels take up?
1) Is Washington sunny enough?
It's a common question, and the answer is an emphatic yes! If you've ever been sunburned on a cloudy day, then you know that solar can penetrate an overcast sky. Plus the modules are more efficient in cooler temps. Lastly, consider Germany. They have gloomy skies; we have liquid sunshine. Two-thirds of Germany is more northerly than Seattle. Yet Germany generates over half of the world's solar electricity and is the world's third largest manufacturer of solar modules. ( http://www.wa-solar-incentives.com/faq.php )
Here on the north Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas we average approximately 3.5 hours of full sun per day. That is about 70% of the sun resources of southern California. However, unlike southern California most of our sunshine arrives between March and September when our electricity needs are low, especially for homes designed to not require air conditioning. If your system is tied to the grid, you can sell that electricity back to the Californians during their peak energy usage.
For another comparison, western Washington on average receives more yearly sunshine than does Germany on average. This is significant because Germany leads the world in the number of installed solar modules with about 50% of the world’s deployed solar modules. If Germany can effectively utilize solar power so can western Washington. And if we can do it, so can the rest of the United States since most of the U.S. receives even more annual sunshine than we do.
The bottom line is solar power is the most practical way to make renewable energy for a home or business. The following questions and answers will help explain why this is true. ( http://www.powertripenergy.com/faq.htm )
2) What are the maintenance requirements?
A solar array has no moving parts and is virtually maintenance free – similar to a skylight. Our modules were developed to slough off rain, dirt, snow, and ice. Their unique design also masks and protects the wiring within the mounting system. As for its function, you'll be able to monitor that with a power meter installed near your current power meter.
3) How long do solar panels last?
The modules are warranted for 20 years and have an expected shelf life of 25 to 30 years. But the fact is, these things haven't been around long enough to know for sure. Early reports have the modules functioning at full power for 30 years and beyond.
4) Best placement of a solar panel system?
A south facing roof is the best orientation for a roof mounted system and the best roof pitch for year round PV performance 5:12 to 12:12. However, if your roof is steeper or shallower or if you have an east or west facing roof – DON’T PANIC! Sunny, south facing roofs with a roof pitch shallower than 5:12 or steeper than 12:12 are still excellent solar platforms. The difference in production on a 3:12 roof compared to a 5:12 roof is only about 3.5%.
East or west facing roofs, if relatively unshaded, also serve as excellent solar platforms. A roof can be oriented up to 30 degrees east or west of due south and lose only about 5% of the potential solar gain. If you have an east or west facing sunny roof, the shallower the roof pitch, the better for overall solar gain. In determining the location and design of a solar array, our goal is to locate your solar array where it will generate the most power over the course of the year while looking attractive and intentional on your property.
If you have a flat roof it is possible to orient the panels south through the use of a fixed tilt racking system. This is typically the only situation where we will tilt or “rack-up” a solar array. Normally a solar array is “flush mounted” parallel to match the pitch of the roof.
( http://www.powertripenergy.com/faq.htm )
5) How much room do solar panels take up?
As a general rule of thumb, it takes approximately 75 - 90 sq. feet of roof area to accommodate 1 kW of PV array. Solar panels are roughly 3 feet wide by 5 feet high and each module generates approximately 200 watts (note: exact dimensions and power outputs vary by manufacturer, for example Silicon Energy’s solar modules measure 4 feet x 4 feet).
( http://www.powertripenergy.com/faq.htm )
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Most of if not all of this information I have gathered from other sites by cutting and pasting. I am attempting to gather the most and best information to one place (this blog) in order to help others learn easier. any suggestions/ideas/questions I would love to here :-) please shoot me a line at Scubsteve223@gmail.com .
Washington solar - http://www.wa-solar-incentives.com/faq.php
Power Trip Energy - http://www.powertripenergy.com/faq.htm
