Solar Power Installation Requirements: What You Need to Know

Solar power is booming, and it’s not just for upscale homeowners in big mansions anymore. Due to the steady reduction in panel prices, improvement of technology, and streamlining of installation processes, solar is now an option for nearly all homeowners. There are still general factors that homeowners who want to install solar should think about before shopping. To help shine a light on these solar panel installation requirements, we have compiled a short list of them here so homeowners can decide if solar is right for them.  In order to get solar installed, homeowners should have: 1.  Energy Information to Size the Solar The first requirement of the entire solar power installation process is that the homeowner should have some information about their energy usage to give to the solar company that will be supplying them with a quote. This typically comes in the form of an electric bill summarizing the usage of last year’s electicity which is expressed in kilowatts. Also, if there are any energy additions expected in the future such as a pool, more A/C use or electric car, these should be considered in the ultimate estimation of electric usage. The reason this energy information is needed is so the solar system proposal will be sized correctly, based on the energy usage. Typically, when a solar installer creates an installation quote, they design it so it will offset the home’s full yearly usage. So, the amount of solar recommended will be based on how much power the home uses in a year: a full offset. 2. A Place to Put the Solar Panels The second requirement a home must meet for installing solar is that it must have ample space to install the solar -- either on the roof or on land surrounding the home -- in order to efficiently harvest the solar energy. If there isn’t sufficient space to fit all of your solar panel installations on the roof, patio covers or trellises can be used as well. In some rare cases, a combination of both roof and ground installations can be used to meet full energy requirements. When solar is to be placed on the roof, most installers can work with nearly any type of roofing material. Some roof materials are more challenging than others, of course, and may require more labor so there is a difference in cost. Also, if the roof does not have sufficient southerly exposure (the optimal direction for solar), other orientations (east, west) may also be used but will take slightly more panels, since these directions are less productive year-round. When the roof of the home itself cannot be used, sometimes adjoining structures such as a detached garage, patio cover or even a free-standing pergola may be used (depending on what is allowed under local building codes). Similarly, for ground-mounted solar, good installers can also work on a large variety of terrain. If the homeowner has a hill on their property, or any type of side yard with sufficient space, the solar installer can likely make it happen. We have completed installations on all types unexpected terrain, even with boulders present! While there are many benefits of installing solar panels on the roof, our experienced team can adapt the location of your panels and find an area that works best for your property.   3. An Electric Panel with Sufficient Capacity One item that many homeowners don’t consider when beginning the solar installation process is the rated size (capacity) of their electric service panel (containing the home’s circuit breakers). Up through the 1960s and 1970s, standard-sized homes were usually built with electric panels rated at 100A (amps). But for newer (and larger homes), the larger 200-amp panels were standard. Electrical code rules limit the size of a solar energy system that can be connected to a home, depending on the rating of its service panel, so that’s another item that the installer will want to know. If a home needs a larger solar energy system than the service panel will support, there are several ways to accommodate this and may include upgrading the size of the panel from 100A to 200A; (this is also a good idea for older panels that are no longer working well or if replacement parts are difficult to get). Our licensed electricians can easily perform this task either before or along with the solar panel installation. However, as with all work, this will add more time and cost to the project and should be kept in mind during the budgeting stage. 4.  A Way to Connect the Solar All solar arrays have to be electrically connected to the electric service panel to deliver their power. Whether it’s a roof-mount or ground-mounted system, some path to the panel must be provided and this should also be considered when homeowners are pricing and deciding on the panel’s location; i.e., where will the electrical conduit (the pipe containing the electrical wiring) be located, running between the solar panels and the main electric panel. With roof-mounted solar panels, the most aesthetically pleasing arrangement for running the conduit to the electric panel is to go through the attic (so it’s hidden) and then, down the side of the home. This does require more work but the best installers will take the time to do this because it delivers a more attractive finished project that maintains the home’s curb appeal at resale time. With ground-mounted solar panel installation, the conduit has to be buried underground and run back to the electric panel. This means that there needs to be a clear path between these two locations. A soil surface can be easily dug, of course, but cement or paved areas may need to be cut with a saw and re-cemented later, in order to bury the conduit properly. As before, this can be easily accommodated but is an important part of the design and budgeting process.

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