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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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New solar panel installation: panel orientation
Hello Solar experts,
I am wondering whether the cost, subsidised or not, of a domestic PV solar installation may be set to come down. My house roof orientation is not ideal for solar panels but I have a flat-roofed studio in the garden that is not overlooked and which could be a good site. But my main question was whether anybody had knowledge/experience of orientation sun tracker systems. I read that the overall efficiency could be increased by up to ~30% by optimising solar capture and I would like to know whether the cost or complications of a tracker system make this viable? Am even wondering whether a diy system might be feasible? Many thanks for any insights. Chris |
#2
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New solar panel installation: panel orientation
Chris Skrimshire wrote:
Hello Solar experts, I am wondering whether the cost, subsidised or not, of a domestic PV solar installation may be set to come down. Solar is continuing to come down, but at a lower rate in absolute terms because everything is so much cheaper than it used to be. That's not a reason not to do it now though - technology is usually cheaper/better next year, and if you waited for that you'd never buy anything. My house roof orientation is not ideal for solar panels but I have a flat-roofed studio in the garden that is not overlooked and which could be a good site. But my main question was whether anybody had knowledge/experience of orientation sun tracker systems. I read that the overall efficiency could be increased by up to ~30% by optimising solar capture and I would like to know whether the cost or complications of a tracker system make this viable? Am even wondering whether a diy system might be feasible? If you go he https://www.pvfitcalculator.energysavingtrust.org.uk/ you can do some calculations for roof slope, shading and orientation. Doing the sums for my garage, let's say it's 2kW of panels and faces south at 30 degrees of inclination, with 'modest' shading. It says 1495 kWh/year. If I then say 0 degrees (flat) it's 1331 kWh/year. About 12% worse. My take on this is that it's a garage so access is just a ladder - no scaffolding or other awkwardness. It's also not super fussy about appearance (flat roofs are never pretty anyway). That means it's feasible to DIY. If I lay the panels flat they're easier to mount, there's no planning implications, and there's fewer problems with wind loading. They also provide some UV protection for the flat roof. Now, the next step in this plan is to look at secondhand gear. Perhaps it won't be quite as efficient as new, but the cost is a lot lower. The lifetime of secondhand panels might be lower, but then I can just go up a ladder and change them - no expensive scaffolding needed. I hadn't thought about solar trackers, but one site suggests they add 25-35% for a single axis tracker, and another 5-10% for dual axis. I'm not sure how much it would cost to make a DIY tracker, but for me it's not an option due to planning, and wind loading (although I suppose they could go to flat if wind was forecast above XX mph). I'd be interested to know if there's a way to make a cheapskate roof tracker. But I suspect it's not going to make sense over just buying more (used) panels, assuming you have enough roof for them. Theo |
#3
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New solar panel installation: panel orientation
I thought of building a directional frame using aluminium scaffold but thought it not worth the time and expense, looking forward to more knowledgeable replies to this post before the trolls take over !
george On Friday, February 19, 2021 at 10:49:23 AM UTC, Chris Skrimshire wrote: Hello Solar experts, I am wondering whether the cost, subsidised or not, of a domestic PV solar installation may be set to come down. My house roof orientation is not ideal for solar panels but I have a flat-roofed studio in the garden that is not overlooked and which could be a good site. But my main question was whether anybody had knowledge/experience of orientation sun tracker systems. I read that the overall efficiency could be increased by up to ~30% by optimising solar capture and I would like to know whether the cost or complications of a tracker system make this viable? Am even wondering whether a diy system might be feasible? Many thanks for any insights. Chris |
#4
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New solar panel installation: panel orientation
On 19/02/2021 10:49, Chris Skrimshire wrote:
Hello Solar experts, I am wondering whether the cost, subsidised or not, of a domestic PV solar installation may be set to come down. My house roof orientation is not ideal for solar panels but I have a flat-roofed studio in the garden that is not overlooked and which could be a good site. But my main question was whether anybody had knowledge/experience of orientation sun tracker systems. I read that the overall efficiency could be increased by up to ~30% by optimising solar capture and I would like to know whether the cost or complications of a tracker system make this viable? Am even wondering whether a diy system might be feasible? There is one ~4kW worth on a farm near me. They have to be incredibly over engineered to survive the panel wind loading. I reckon the cost must have been around an order of magnitude more than simple mounting. It is worth getting the angle and azimuth right if you can but you also need to be aware that mornings often have more sunshine than afternoons. Various online calculators will do the geometry for you. Misalignment by theta costs like cos(theta). The only panels I can think of where solar tracking might be economic are the hot water ones where there is a tube at the focus of a cylinder and there is scope for rotating the tubes. It might be worth being able to adjust the slope of the panels on a flat roof so that you catch more sunlight in mid winter when the sun barely makes it above the horizon. -- Regards, Martin Brown |
#5
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New solar panel installation: panel orientation
George Miles wrote:
I thought of building a directional frame using aluminium scaffold but thought it not worth the time and expense, looking forward to more knowledgeable replies to this post before the trolls take over ! I wonder if you could do adjustable tilt with the panels having a fixed pivot at the bottom, and then a motor on a screw mechanism to wind the top up and down, a bit like a screwjack window opener. Wouldn't be that complicated, although weather and windproofing it might be annoying. Theo |
#6
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New solar panel installation: panel orientation
On 19/02/2021 12:58, Theo wrote:
I hadn't thought about solar trackers, but one site suggests they add 25-35% for a single axis tracker, and another 5-10% for dual axis. I'm not sure how much it would cost to make a DIY tracker, but for me it's not an option due to planning, and wind loading (although I suppose they could go to flat if wind was forecast above XX mph). This reminds me of the debate about solar panels on motorhomes. It's often cheaper, neater, and more effective to simply add an extra battery. Bill |
#7
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New solar panel installation: panel orientation
On 19/02/2021 10:49, Chris Skrimshire wrote:
Hello Solar experts, I am wondering whether the cost, subsidised or not, of a domestic PV solar installation may be set to come down. My house roof orientation is not ideal for solar panels but I have a flat-roofed studio in the garden that is not overlooked and which could be a good site. But my main question was whether anybody had knowledge/experience of orientation sun tracker systems. I read that the overall efficiency could be increased by up to ~30% by optimising solar capture and I would like to know whether the cost or complications of a tracker system make this viable? Am even wondering whether a diy system might be feasible? Many thanks for any insights. Chris The key issue is how much longer the subsidy scam will be tolerated. Without subsidy domestic panels are hopelessly uneconomic. They also do nothing to affect global climate. So really the only reason to install them apart from virtue signalling is for the subsidy. And that will vanish without warning once the scam is exposed . -- €œThe ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.€ Herbert Spencer |
#8
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New solar panel installation: panel orientation
"Theo" wrote in message ... George Miles wrote: I thought of building a directional frame using aluminium scaffold but thought it not worth the time and expense, looking forward to more knowledgeable replies to this post before the trolls take over ! I wonder if you could do adjustable tilt with the panels having a fixed pivot at the bottom, That isnt what needs to vary the most, it’s the horizontal that varys the most, not the vertical. and then a motor on a screw mechanism to wind the top up and down, a bit like a screwjack window opener. Wouldn't be that complicated, although weather and windproofing it might be annoying. |
#9
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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New solar panel installation: panel orientation
On 19/02/2021 10:49, Chris Skrimshire wrote:
Hello Solar experts, I am wondering whether the cost, subsidised or not, of a domestic PV solar installation may be set to come down. My house roof orientation is not ideal for solar panels but I have a flat-roofed studio in the garden that is not overlooked and which could be a good site. But my main question was whether anybody had knowledge/experience of orientation sun tracker systems. I read that the overall efficiency could be increased by up to ~30% by optimising solar capture and I would like to know whether the cost or complications of a tracker system make this viable? Am even wondering whether a diy system might be feasible? Build a solar concentrator furnace? https://www.ntkj-japan.com/images/20...rc-300x236.gif https://www.ntkj-japan.com/solar-con...-fresnel-lens/ or a better way (over from one of the inhabitants of uk.rec.sheds) http://www.sohara.org/ -- Adrian C |
#10
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Lonely Obnoxious Cantankerous Auto-contradicting Senile Ozzie Troll Alert!
On Sat, 20 Feb 2021 05:11:41 +1100, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again: I thought of building a directional frame using aluminium scaffold but thought it not worth the time and expense, looking forward to more knowledgeable replies to this post before the trolls take over ! I wonder if you could do adjustable tilt with the panels having a fixed pivot at the bottom, That isnt what needs to vary the most, it¢s the horizontal that varys the most, not the vertical. Ah, the resident senile troll from Oz is trying to take over already! G -- addressing nym-shifting senile Rodent: "You on the other hand are a heavyweight bull****ter who demonstrates his particular prowess at it every day." MID: |
#11
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New solar panel installation: panel orientation
In article , The Natural Philosopher
writes On 19/02/2021 10:49, Chris Skrimshire wrote: Hello Solar experts, I am wondering whether the cost, subsidised or not, of a domestic PV solar installation may be set to come down. My house roof orientation is not ideal for solar panels but I have a flat-roofed studio in the garden that is not overlooked and which could be a good site. But my main question was whether anybody had knowledge/experience of orientation sun tracker systems. I read that the overall efficiency could be increased by up to ~30% by optimising solar capture and I would like to know whether the cost or complications of a tracker system make this viable? Am even wondering whether a diy system might be feasible? Many thanks for any insights. Chris The key issue is how much longer the subsidy scam will be tolerated. Without subsidy domestic panels are hopelessly uneconomic. They also do nothing to affect global climate. So really the only reason to install them apart from virtue signalling is for the subsidy. And that will vanish without warning once the scam is exposed . The other as yet unaddressed issue is how to decommission them at end of life. -- bert |
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