ᐅ Issues with the installation alignment of our planned solar power system
Created on: 1 Feb 2018 21:10
L
Lobster
Good evening,
Our building permit / planning permission has already been approved, and the final planning is underway.
Now we have a problem with the solar system for domestic hot water.
The roof ridge runs almost exactly from north to south. This means we only have space on the east and west sides of the roof. The energy consultant ran the calculations and concluded that neither side provides enough capacity to meet all requirements.
Simply rotating the house is not an option, and of course, we had a reason for placing it as we did. However, we did not anticipate these issues.
One initial idea was to install the system on the carport roof at home. However, this is not directly attached to the house, so a distance of about 6–10 meters (20–33 feet) would need to be bridged to the utility room.
Does anyone have experience or ideas? We would really appreciate it.
Our building permit / planning permission has already been approved, and the final planning is underway.
Now we have a problem with the solar system for domestic hot water.
The roof ridge runs almost exactly from north to south. This means we only have space on the east and west sides of the roof. The energy consultant ran the calculations and concluded that neither side provides enough capacity to meet all requirements.
Simply rotating the house is not an option, and of course, we had a reason for placing it as we did. However, we did not anticipate these issues.
One initial idea was to install the system on the carport roof at home. However, this is not directly attached to the house, so a distance of about 6–10 meters (20–33 feet) would need to be bridged to the utility room.
Does anyone have experience or ideas? We would really appreciate it.
M
Mastermind12 Feb 2018 12:58The responses unfortunately show that people here rely too much on a developer. Their goal is "to sell as little as possible, as expensively as possible."
What is the point of a 5m² (54 sq ft) solar thermal system with a 200-liter (53 gallons) storage tank? That’s far too little storage capacity. On the other hand, it seems they only want to use it for domestic hot water. But why 5m² (54 sq ft) – probably just to qualify for subsidies. That doesn’t change how impractical it is! What kind of heating system will be installed? That question hasn’t been answered yet.
And why don’t you simply ask about alternatives? Why should the house be unnecessarily redesigned just because of a solar thermal system? This raises the question of how well-informed the developer and energy consultant really are. Try asking if a small domestic hot water heat pump would be enough for the hot water supply, combined with a small photovoltaic system.
Domestic hot water heat pumps are available in all sorts of configurations (air-source heat pump – outside or in the basement, with an integrated water storage tank, etc.). It certainly doesn’t cost more! Adding a photovoltaic system on top makes it a well-rounded solution that will start saving you money after about eight years (around the ROI of a current photovoltaic system without a battery, assuming the price is right).
P.S. I’m only mentioning the photovoltaic system because it is still a good investment at the moment. You use part of the electricity you generate yourself and feed the rest into the grid. Self-consumption is typically estimated at a minimum of 25%. Depending on the heating system you have or how hot water is produced during summer, you can achieve even higher self-consumption.
What is the point of a 5m² (54 sq ft) solar thermal system with a 200-liter (53 gallons) storage tank? That’s far too little storage capacity. On the other hand, it seems they only want to use it for domestic hot water. But why 5m² (54 sq ft) – probably just to qualify for subsidies. That doesn’t change how impractical it is! What kind of heating system will be installed? That question hasn’t been answered yet.
And why don’t you simply ask about alternatives? Why should the house be unnecessarily redesigned just because of a solar thermal system? This raises the question of how well-informed the developer and energy consultant really are. Try asking if a small domestic hot water heat pump would be enough for the hot water supply, combined with a small photovoltaic system.
Domestic hot water heat pumps are available in all sorts of configurations (air-source heat pump – outside or in the basement, with an integrated water storage tank, etc.). It certainly doesn’t cost more! Adding a photovoltaic system on top makes it a well-rounded solution that will start saving you money after about eight years (around the ROI of a current photovoltaic system without a battery, assuming the price is right).
P.S. I’m only mentioning the photovoltaic system because it is still a good investment at the moment. You use part of the electricity you generate yourself and feed the rest into the grid. Self-consumption is typically estimated at a minimum of 25%. Depending on the heating system you have or how hot water is produced during summer, you can achieve even higher self-consumption.
Same here... I can understand that with 5 sqm (54 sq ft) of photovoltaic panels, but at least ST provides warm water... though that doesn’t help the original poster much now. I would simply go for 7.5 sqm (81 sq ft) and place the system on the west side... or just have it recalculated.
Hello,
As Mycraft explained, that is correct.
Increasing the storage volume, for example to 300 liters (79 gallons), only marginally improves the solar coverage rate. Therefore, and in order to keep systems as compact as possible, the industry typically offers 200 liters (53 gallons) for single-family homes.
However, I was quite surprised that in a recent discussion I was told heating systems should be as inexpensive as possible to purchase. At the same time, a domestic hot water heat pump combined with photovoltaic panels was recommended without objection.
The focus is simply not on biomass, where it is more acceptable to spend considerably more money.
Olli
As Mycraft explained, that is correct.
Increasing the storage volume, for example to 300 liters (79 gallons), only marginally improves the solar coverage rate. Therefore, and in order to keep systems as compact as possible, the industry typically offers 200 liters (53 gallons) for single-family homes.
However, I was quite surprised that in a recent discussion I was told heating systems should be as inexpensive as possible to purchase. At the same time, a domestic hot water heat pump combined with photovoltaic panels was recommended without objection.
The focus is simply not on biomass, where it is more acceptable to spend considerably more money.
Olli
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