We will be installing a residential solar system this summer. I plan on doing it owner-builder. I have experience as owner-builder, building my own house and shop 10-12 years ago and I am a school teacher with summers off. I am in the mountains of NE California and on PG&E NEM2.0 and plan on a system size around 6 kwh. We have the ability to cut any trees down.
I have a lot of questions, but will start with the most pressing. Roof mounted west facing panels with some winter shading vs south facing ground mount panels with zero shading?
The roof mount would go onto the shop, as my main residence is just too steep (10/12 pitch) and too tall (eves are 12-18' off the ground) for me to comfortably work up there. The ridge line of the shop roof points approx 185 degrees, meaning the west facing roof would be 275 degrees.
The ground mount system would go up and behind the shop, facing south or slightly south west. We have rocky ground which makes digging difficult, but that has been over come before. I would run the wire overhead to the shop. It also has the added bonus of being able to sweep snow off and possibly easier to expand with proper planning.
I understand that I will need a few more panels if I go West facing roof mount, but not sure if even adding more panels will produce the same as the south facing ground mount.
What would you do?
I have a lot of questions, but will start with the most pressing. Roof mounted west facing panels with some winter shading vs south facing ground mount panels with zero shading?
The roof mount would go onto the shop, as my main residence is just too steep (10/12 pitch) and too tall (eves are 12-18' off the ground) for me to comfortably work up there. The ridge line of the shop roof points approx 185 degrees, meaning the west facing roof would be 275 degrees.
The ground mount system would go up and behind the shop, facing south or slightly south west. We have rocky ground which makes digging difficult, but that has been over come before. I would run the wire overhead to the shop. It also has the added bonus of being able to sweep snow off and possibly easier to expand with proper planning.
I understand that I will need a few more panels if I go West facing roof mount, but not sure if even adding more panels will produce the same as the south facing ground mount.
What would you do?
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