Solar panels on an East facing roof?

[davers79]

Hi

We're thinking of getting some quotes for solar panels. Our roof faces east west (gable ends are north/south). We couldn't put panels on the front of the house (west) as it would look terrible!

Has anyone else just got panels on the East facing side? If so are they efficient? How much energy are you producing?

We also have a flat roof (garage) on the south side and it might be possible to put some panels on there - although we couldn't angle them very much as they would be visible from the road.

Again any thoughts of opinions?

Thanks

 

[obiplumbkinobi]

Collecters should ideally face south, orientations between 30 degrees east and 40 degrees west of south are acceptable and should not result in more than a 10% loss in efficiency from the ideal situation.

The output is also dependant on the pitch of the roof / collector. In southern England the optimum angle is around a 35 degrees from horizontal.

Are You looking at Solar Thermal Or Solar PV?

 

[kevindgas]

could you put an east / south arrangement? the gable end being used to hang a vertical panel?
an east only arrangement would only give you around 30 -35% in summer
in winter i doubt you would even get 5%!

 

[mysteryman]

Put suitable tubes horizontally on the south gable. Twist the tubes in their clips so the collector plates are facing up to the sky.

 

[Googlyhead]

Presuming that this is for solar thermal, as in the plumbing section...
A south facing gable is quite an advantage if you can use that for the panels, as you can orient them to more winter, less summer sun - in winter when you need more heat input, the sun is lower (closer to vertical orientation), in summer when you may get too much input, the sun is higher (closer to the 35/40 degree pitch)
If you would prefer on just the east; consider the fact that they'll be productive when the sun rises (not sets), possibly after everyone's up and away, with the heat left in the cylinder to slowly dwindle away, possibly before anyone gets round to using it that night! Depends on your usage, but I'd expect something productive in the afternoon (ie. West) to be preferable to morning (east)

OTOH if the query is regarding PV (electric) panels on this roof arrangement; don't bother. This is probably the least productive (and worthwhile) roof to install on!

 

[Agile]

Using solar energy to heat your hot water can save perhaps £130 per annum.

The cost of the installation might be about £4000 so the return on capital is very poor.

Placing panels where they dont get full sun reduces he output/saving even more.

Tube collecters can be fitted on a vertical wall as the tubes can be angled individually. Equally they can be fitted on a flat roof.

Tony

 

[RigidRaider]

Using solar energy to heat your hot water can save perhaps £130 per annum.

The cost of the installation might be about £4000 so the return on capital is very poor.

Placing panels where they dont get full sun reduces he output/saving even more.

Tube collecters can be fitted on a vertical wall as the tubes can be angled individually. Equally they can be fitted on a flat roof.

Tony

Alternatively install the system yourself for around £700. See here:

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=255833

Our roof faces a few degrees south of west so our tubes begin picking up usable radiation at around 11.00, as soon as the sun hits them sideways on. Evacuated tubes can collect energy whatever the angle of the sun. If your roof faces east you might get a small contribution for 2 - 3 hours in the mornings but you'd do better to have the tubes mounted obliquely on your garage roof, facing south-ish. The system I installed uses 10mm pipework so the liquid whizzes around pretty fast with little opportunity to lose heat until it reaches the coil, which I guess is 22mm.

 

[RigidRaider]

Oops sorry, removed the link.