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The amount of solar energy received by Earth could power a civilization over 100 times larger than ours! Elon Musk, CEO, Tesla Solar +91 98 3000 3000 Homeowners Guide To Buying Rooftop Solar





















Are solar systems difficult to maintain? Will I have to clean them frequently? Maintenance for solar panels is not just required, but essential for their optimum performance and longevity. Neglecting maintenance can lead to a whopping 40% reduction in power generation, in just a few months. A solar system should be cleaned and maintained by professionals using the right tools and techniques. Here’s what maintenance should include: Panel cleaning Over time, dust, dirt, leaves, bird droppings and debris can build up on solar panels, thereby reducing their efficiency. These can be washed away by spraying water with a hose pipe. But besides occasionally cleaning them with water, you should refrain from self-cleaning and leave it to experts. Professionals use a 4-5 inch long soft- bristled brush and special cleaning solutions to gently remove any stubborn dirt or bird droppings. Checking loose connections Loose connections can cause electrical problems and reduce the system's efficiency. Regularly checking and tightening connections can prevent this issue. Monitoring performance Regularly monitoring the solar system's performance can help detect any issues early on and prevent costly repairs. Pro tip Choose a solar installation company that provides live monitoring of your system via a mobile app. You should be able to keep track of the performance of your solar system to ensure it is generating power at its best capacity. +91 98 3000 3000 Homeowners Guide To Buying Rooftop Solar 13























How does rooftop solar work? A rooftop solar system is a careful arrangement of multiple components that work together to generate electricity. 1. Solar panels: The 2. Mounting structures: Roof-hugging aluminium or 6-9 ft steel most critical part structures that boost and secure panels to sun-soaking of a solar system, heights, leaving the roof free to move around. The best solar solar panels mounting structures are prefabricated in precision labs. The convert sunlight steel structures are also coated with an anti-corrosive hot- into DC electricity. dipped galvanised zinc layer to make them rust-proof. Back to grid 5. Accessories: 3. Inverter: The heart of a solar These include system, an inverter turns direct cables, MC4 current (DC) electricity generated connectors, by panels into alternating current combiner (AC) power which is the type of boxes, conduit electricity used in all homes and trays, earthing strips, and a buildings. The most popular solar lightning arrester to help inverters in India are the string the system run smoothly inverter and the micro-inverter. The 4. Bi-directional meter: Enables net-metering by tracking choice between the two depends and recording electricity imported from the grid and excess generation fed back to the grid. The excess/ on individual requirements, system unused electricity fed back into the electrical grid earns the owner of the solar system credits from the local design, and budget. discom. These credits add up and can be used to reduce your electricity bill if your consumption exceeds the power generated by your solar system. +91 98 3000 3000 Homeowners Guide To Buying Rooftop Solar 25

Which type of solar panel should I choose for my home? Choosing the right type of solar panel for your home depends on several factors such as the technology that works best for your needs, the brand and space availability on your roof. The two major options to consider in India are polycrystalline panels and monocrystalline panels.  Polycrystalline panels Monocrystalline panels Made up of multiple silicon crystals  Made up of a single silicon crystal Efficiency ranges between 16-17% Efficiency ranges between 19-21% One poly panel can generate 330-watt One mono panel can generate 500- peak power under ideal conditions watt peak power under ideal conditions Less efficient in capturing sunlight More efficient in capturing sunlight Higher degradation rate of 0.7% per year Lower degradation rate of 0.55% per year Work best on 100% shadow-free roofs Can still perform with some amount of shadow Need a lot of rooftop space to achieve Requires lesser space than required capacity polycrystalline panels to achieve the same capacity, making them more suitable for cluttered roofs Is less efficient in adapting to Is more efficient in adapting to temperature changes temperature changes +91 98 3000 3000 Homeowners Guide To Buying Rooftop Solar 26