Are you looking to switch to solar energy technology, but you don’t have enough yard and roof space? Well, here’s the perfect solution for you; wall mounted solar panels! These are an excellent addition to your home or office if you don’t want to go for roof mounted panels.
In 2018, the UK generated 3.9% of its electricity with solar energy. This number has continued to rise over the years and will continue to do so because of its many benefits. This article will explain everything you might want to know about wall mounted solar panels guide. Let’s dive right into it, shall we?
Contents
Benefits of Wall Mounted Systems
The wall mounted systems offer a number of benefits over the ground mounted system or even the roof-top ones.
Here are the two major ones:
- These systems reduce your carbon footprint.
- They decrease your electricity bills considerably.
Installing Wall Mounted Panels
These are typically installed as solar panel modules on a south-facing wall. If you don’t install these on a south-facing wall, you are likely to face troubles while generating electricity. This is because the wall mounted systems already have a few drawbacks because of their slight slope.
Wall mounted solar panels have a slope or are vertically placed even if they’re tilted even slightly. Due to this, the energy absorption is maximum when the sun is the lowest.
To maximize energy absorption, you need to make sure to install the wall mounted systems strategically. A few ways in which you can do this is by placing the solar panels directly parallel to the wall, tilt them away from the wall or overhang it.
The natural slope of wall mounted solar panels requires special mounting hardware to ensure its security. They aren’t as easy to install as roof mounted solar panels that lay flat. Securing wall mounted ones are crucial to avoid accidents and mishaps.
Precautions
If you cannot drill a hole into a wall, you can ask the technicians to install it using planks instead. However, make sure you check with the UK Government regulations first. They might allow it in some areas while a few regions may be disbarred from it.
Wall Mounted Solar Panels Electricity Production vs Roof Mounted Solar Panels
Some individuals say that wall mounted solar systems produce less electricity in comparison to roof mounted ones. However, this mostly depends on the time of the year and where you’re located.
Most of the time, the wall mounted solar panel system will produce more energy during the winter. In the summer, they won’t generate electricity as much. This is because, during the winter months, the sun is at its lowest. More direct sunlight will be hitting the tilted solar panel angles.
Therefore, during the summertime, ground mounted solar panels and roof mounted ones generate more electricity due to the sunlight directly hitting their slightly sloped panels as compared to the high slope ones of a wall mounted panel system.
Maintenance of Wall Mounted Solar Panels
In comparison to the ground mounted solar panels and the roof mounted ones, the maintenance of the wall mounted system is easier. If you’re worried about dirt, snow, and other impurities building upon the panel system, then worry not.
Most often, the rain washes everything away. If you’re not getting any rain, then the vertically high slope of the wall mounted systems will avoid anything piling up due to gravity.
Their maintenance also doesn’t require you to climb up a roof as it does with roof mounted panels. This can be difficult for many people, and wall mounted solar panels are usually very easy to reach.
A Drawback to Its Maintenance
One major drawback to the wall mounted panels’ maintenance is replacing or fixing. If your solar panels break down and require fixing or replacing, it can be difficult. It is because a group of professional individuals will need to construct scaffolding from the top. You shouldn’t try this step on your own since it’s a bit too technical for most individuals.
Cost of Wall Mounted Solar Panels
The cost of wall mounted solar panels will be considerably high due to the specific mounting equipment it requires. There are many safety concerns associated with installing solar panels, and because of this, you should expect high installation costs.
Factors Deciding Your Cost
There are a few factors that decide your electricity costs, and they are as follows:
- Where you are located
- The installation process
- The materials your solar cells are made of
- The technology your solar system has
- The extra features that come with it
Building-Integrated Solar PV Panels
One of the drawbacks to wall mounts is that they are usually more visible than roof-top ones or ground mounted panels. However, if you have limited roof space and you don’t have any other option, there is a possible solution to this problem.
Building-integrated solar PV panels are a unique type of solar PV system that is disguised according to the wall. They use materials that integrate with the wall or even windows.
These specially designed solar PV systems have solar cells that are sprayed with a little bit of amorphous silicon, which creates a PV layer. This helps to generate electricity and allows for light to pass.
These solar PV panels are a great solution for those individuals who don’t want their panels to be too visible on the national grid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a 4kW solar system generate per day?
A 4kW solar system is the most commonly used system in the UK. The output of a solar system is dependent on a number of things such as your location, the slope angle, quality of materials and much more.
Since a solar panel system produces 2.5 kWh per kW, if you multiply 2.5 by 4, you get the output of 4kW. Therefore, the 4kW solar system should generate 9.5kWh per day.
What is the best direction for solar panels to face?
In the UK, the best direction for solar panels to face is the south. This is because, in the south, the energy absorption of the solar panels is at its maximum. As soon as it moves away from the south, the absorption levels will fall.
What is the size requirement of solar panels?
There’s a simple formula to calculate the size of solar panels. All you need to do is multiply your household’s energy consumption per hour by the sunlight hours at its peak in your area and divide this by a panel’s wattage. You’ll get the size of solar panels that is according to your requirement.
Summing Up
Switching to wall mounts may just be your next best investment that can power all your household appliances and other energy needs. However, it takes a considerable amount of thought since it’s a high-cost investment.
There are a few limitations to this technology, but alongside that, there are also solutions to it, but it requires more effort. You might even need to put in the money but rest assured, it’s an investment that you won’t ever regret that comes with numerous benefits.