Can you put solar panels on a roof?

Ground-mounted systems are another alternative to fitting solar panels on your roof. Some state-of-the-art systems can rotate to follow the sun and maximise the amount of electricity they produce. This can be a good option if your roof isn't a suitable place to put a solar panel system. However, they may need foundations and can also be pricey.

Do solar panels need sunlight?

All your solar panels will need to work is daylight. 3. Not all roof types are suitable Ideally, your roof should be facing southwards at a 30-45 degree angle – although east- and west-facing solar panels can work well too. You’ll need to make sure the roof is free from the shade as well.

Should you install solar tiles on your roof?

"If you are removing or replacing the tiles you may choose to use solar tiles," says David. "The solar cells are built into the tiles or slates and mounted on the roof as if they were normal tiles or slates. Although not completely invisible these solar solutions can be much better aesthetically than the larger panels.

Can a flat roof hold solar panels?

This is because a solar panel system usually weighs about 20kg per square metre, which the great majority of roofs can hold. However, flat roofs may not always be strong enough for solar panels. Drilling into a flat roof can cause leaks, so an installer will usually ballast the panels instead – but these will add around 80kg per panel.

Do you need planning permission to install solar panels on a flat roof?

Thanks to recent changes to permitted development rules, most installations on flat roofs won’t need solar panel planning permission. So long as the panels aren’t visible from the street and don’t exceed 200mm above the roof, they should be covered under permitted development rights.

Where should solar panels be installed?

The most common place to install your solar panels is on top of your roof. In order for them to function at full capacity, you need them to be in an optimal position to receive the sun’s rays. So it makes sense that this is on top of your roof, free of obstruction and hopefully a place that receives lots of daylight.