Everything You Need to Know About Solar Site Assessments

If you’ve shown an interest in having a solar energy system installed at your home, then the solar provider has probably recommended that you have a solar site assessment, and they are typically provided for free with no commitment to purchase panels from them. But, what happens during an assessment, and is it really necessary?

Let’s look in a little more detail:

What must solar professionals discover during an assessment?

There are 3 important questions that the solar provider must answer when assessing a site:

• Your existing power consumption
• How much of it you wish to replace
• What size solar array will be needed

Once these questions have been answered, they’ll then go on to complete an evaluation based upon your property and your specific energy needs. The evaluation looks something like this:

Consultation

To make sure your solar panels are able to meet your needs, the solar provider will meet with you to discuss your priorities.

Location assessment

Whether you require ground or roof mounted panels, the options will be discussed with you in detail so that an informed decision can be made as to where the panels will go.  

Power usage

The solar company will analyze your electricity usage to determine the effects of its solar energy recommendations. If you wish to become 100% dependent of the grid, then this is especially important.

Cost

Your budget and what is possible within it, will be outlined in detail at this stage.

The pathfinder solar site assessment tool

An important tool in any solar site assessment, it helps show professionals where the best location is for a solar system and what direction they should be facing to absorb the most solar radiation and produce the highest output.

Having been in use since the 1970s, the pathfinder solar site assessment tool can be thanked for its involvement in solar tax incentives and even for the solar ratings you see on real estate listings.

Are solar site assessments necessary?

There are several risks involved with skipping a site assessment before investing in solar power, and they include the following:

• Safety – your roof or soil (depending on where the installation will go) may not be suitable to support the weight of a solar installation, but a site assessment will ensure that it can be safely installed
• Incompatibility – if a system is installed that is too big for your home and its energy needs, or a system is installed that isn’t adequate enough to power your home, your investment could be at stake
• Incentives – not having a professional installation team visit your home for an assessment, could mean that you miss out on important solar incentives in your area, such as tax credits and special grants. 

Ultimately, solar site assessments take place for the benefit of both you and the solar panel provider, and should never be skipped if you want to protect your investment and save money on your energy bills.

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