Solar panels have been great for helping homeowners to live a more eco-friendly life, while enjoying comfort at the lowest possible price. However, when a homeowner goes to have solar panels installed, they oftentimes think that their only option is to have rooftop panels installed. While this does work in many cases, it can be harder for some home types to reap all the benefits that solar energy can bring from the roof—particularly if it’s a small roof space or not angled in an ideal way.
What many people don’t realize is that there is an alternative option! This option is ground-mounted solar panels. This isn’t the right choice for every home, but they’re the best choice for many. Read on to learn more.
The Restrictions of Rooftop Panels
As we mentioned above, solar panels can be restricted by some factors. This includes if your roof is not at a good angle, it doesn’t face south enough to get enough direct sunlight, or if the solar panels are blocked by a chimney or skylights—if any of this is the case your solar energy consumption will be less effective and may cost a lot more than you expected.
There’s also the size of your roof to consider. Some roofs aren’t even big enough for a solar energy system that can meet all the electrical demands of your home. After all, in recent years these electrical needs have grown.
The Benefits of Ground-Mounted Panels
Ground-mounted solar panels can be placed on any open land, and therefore they are easy for our professionals to install. They don’t require drilling into a roof, and the components used to secure standard ground-mounted systems are relatively lightweight and easy to move.
Ground-mounted panels can often be set at the perfect angle, and can face the exact direction that they need to in order to get the most from the free energy of the sun. Your rooftop restricts this, but ground-mounted panels can actually help you generate more electricity than a comparably-sized rooftop solar system.
This said, ground-mounted solar panels are usually a bit costlier than rooftop solar panels on a per-watt basis. This is because there is often additional labor and permitting involved in order to successfully install these components. But ground-mounted systems can be located wherever conditions are best, once receiving that proper permit.
The Different Types of Ground-Mounted Systems
Not all ground-mounted solar panels are created equal. Standard ground-mounted systems are what we talked about above, but there are also pole-mounted solar panel systems.
Pole-mounted solar panel systems can support multiple panels on a single pole, and elevate them higher off the ground, which is ideal if you have a lot of trees or other factors that create too much shade.
You probably have a lot of questions if this is your first time considering solar panel installation. Our team is here to answer those questions! Reach out today to learn more.
Contact Jonas Energy Solutions today to learn more about solar power in Lake County, CA.