When it comes to installing solar panels at a residence or commercial property, there are two main areas to mount the panels – on the roof or on the ground. The most common method is mounting the panels onto the roof of a building, but due to many factors, that may not be the best option for those looking to receive the maximum production by harnessing the power of the Sun for their energy needs.
Roofs are built with many different factors taken into account and the location, angle and space available may not be ideal for mounting solar panels. This article will reveal the top three reasons to mount solar panels on the ground versus the common roof-mounted method.
1. Shading
Shade is the natural enemy of the solar panel and while trees are a commodity for a beautiful landscape, if you have a shaded roof, mounting panels onto the roof is a no-go. The ideal way to receive peak production from solar panels is to have them in a wide-open area, away from shade. Even just a bit of shade can prohibit the panel’s production, thwarting its efforts to give you optimal results and value.
Installing the panels onto a ground mount racking system away from trees or other sources of shade ensures that you are soaking up every possible bit of solar energy available.
2. Location
Because the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, a solar panel that is pointed due south is optimized for all-day solar exposure. Many buildings do not have a south-facing roof or may not have enough room facing south to mount enough panels to receive the production needed to obtain peak results.
By mounting solar panels to a ground mount racking system, solar users can ensure that the panels are facing directly due south and are able to receive the sun’s energy for all-day exposure.
3. Angle
The Earth rotates around the Sun at an angle and because of this, the direct pathway of the Sun’s rays are more powerful in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer months and less powerful during the winter months. Because of this phenomenon, solar users need to make sure that solar panels are tilted at an angle that will give them optimal production throughout the entire year.
Many roofs are built at a low angle and therefore prohibit solar panels from being tilted at the most favorable angle possible for direct exposure, stagnating the opportunity for annual peak production and results. By mounting solar panels to a ground mount racking system, one can ensure that the panels are tilted at the most advantageous angle for peak year-round production.
To learn the best tilt angle for your location, Footprint Hero has an excellent, user-friendly website to help you decipher your optimal angle by just entering your zip code, city or address. Click on the following link to see your location’s best solar panel angle https://footprinthero.com/solar-panel-angle-by-zip-code.
Not all home and business owners have the option of ground-mounted solar panels as the three factors listed in this article are not commonplace for every solar investor’s situation. However, if there is the opportunity to opt for mounting solar panels on the ground versus a roof, the ground mount method is the ideal option for peak production, optimal results and a maximum return on investment.
The Ready Rack ground mount racking system by APA Solar Racking is a desirable system that is easy to install and is also cost effective, helping to make any ground mount solar project simple and affordable.
Visit https://www.readyracksolar.com/ to learn more about the Ready Rack system and its capabilities.
