A London resident who applied to install solar panels on their roof was surprised that their application was rejected.
The rejection was only because they had applied to install the panels on the south-facing roof, which faces the highway. Instead, homeowners in the area were only allowed to install them on the north-facing roof.
But are the theories true that north-facing panels generate significantly less power?
Here's what to know
The homeowner posted their story on Reddit and explained that their home is in a London conservation area, which means standard permitted development rights didn't apply.
Going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy. Homeowners who want to compare designs and pricing can try EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
As for the debate between north-facing and south-facing solar panels, studies have found that in the Northern Hemisphere, it is better to install south-facing solar panels.
"When it comes to solar panel orientation, the proven advice in the U.K. is to install your panels facing south in order to capture the most light, and therefore generate the most power," Sunsave reported. "On average, solar panels facing true north are about 54% as effective as panels facing true south."
But even with north-facing solar panels, the power it produces is "by no means trivial," Sunsave said. "Turning the panels northwest or northeast, rather than directly north, boosts generation by better capturing morning and afternoon sunlight."
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What can be done?
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. Batteries can also help households shift cheap overnight electricity into expensive evening hours. Homeowners can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
For U.S. readers considering their own projects, EnergySage's solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system state by state, along with details on solar panel incentives for each state. Together, those resources can help homeowners get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
Where can I learn more?
These articles look at north-facing solar roofs, homeowners association disputes, policy changes, and plug-in panel alternatives.
• In Evanston, panel-covered roofs face south, east, west, and even north.
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