With the help of some advanced technological tools available to installers these days solar site assessment and shading analysis can be done with an ease. Solar panels installation companies can now even measure your roof remotely using an online tool called Google Earth. If you are planning to install a Net Metering or an Off-Grid solar panels system in Ontario, checking your monthly energy bill for energy consumption numbers, and determining your critical loads are extremely important.
Determining Tilt and Azimuth angles
Another important factor to consider is shading of your solar panels array. A professional solar panels installer would need to go up on your roof, take some measurements, and use a special tool called SolarPathfinder (or similar) to assess affect of shading on the future performance of your solar panels array. Take a look at this test report generated by one of the solar panels installation companies in Toronto: Solar Pathfinder Report
If you choose to install a solar panels online monitoring system, you’d be able to see online how many watts each panel and your solar PV array in general are producing at a particular time of the day.
Tigo monitoring system_shading effect
Tigo monitoring system_shading effectDuring this initial consultation ask your solar panels installer the following questions:
– how many solar panel systems have they installed in Ontario?
– how long does the application, approval, and installation process take?
– can they provide references of the solar projects already completed?
– what type of equipment (solar modules, inverters, racking, etc.) are they supplying?
– what is the installation method (rails, footings, flashings, etc.)
– what is the warranty on the parts and labour?
– etc.
