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One of the most common causes of PV owners being unhappy with the performance of their system is poor array placement. It is extremely important to be aware of the year-round solar access of an area when placing a PV system; a rooftop that is fully exposed to the sun in January may be shaded by trees or other buildings for 9 months of the year. The impact of shading can be reduced by specifying system types that are less susceptible to shadow impacts, e.g. amorphous cells. The easiest method for determining a site’s solar access is with a Solar Pathfinder. This device shows the sun’s path across the sky for every month of the year and the corresponding shadows produced at the device’s location. For more information visit: http://www.solarpathfinder.com/homepower.html

Another important consideration when sizing a PV array is the amount and intensity of sunlight your particular area receives on a yearly basis. In some locations with moderate to low levels of solar energy (insolation) or too much overshading, photovoltaics may not be the most economical source of ‘green’ power.  Most locations in Australia, however, receive more than enough sunlight to make PV systems cost competitive with any energy source.

Next Step: Panel Mounting Angle

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