The darkest days of winter might not normally be the time to think about daylight and sunshine, but as our energy consumption reaches a peak and the size of the next bill becomes a matter of worry for many once again, some will start thinking about what they can do about it – and whether generating energy using solar panels is the answer.
A second question that may be asked is whether solar panels can be fitted on flat roofing, or whether this is something only your neighbours with sloping roofs can take advantage of (as, no doubt, some will have done).
The good news is, yes you can install a solar panel on a flat roof. However, the roof will need to be set up in the right way, with the right things like fans, drains and vents in place It will usually be sloped, but not always.
Apart from all that, the roof will need to be strong enough to take the weight and well-sealed so that the drilled holes that are needed to fit the panels do not act as a means by which pooled rainwater can seep into the building below.
In addition, flat roof solar panels may need cleaning more often than those on sloping roofs, just because the angle will not usually be as great, so debris will not slide off it so easily.
Having solar panels can be more effective than some think. It’s true, of course, that it will provide more of your electricity needs in summer because you will use less heating and lighting then anyway, while more is generated.
However, it is worth emphasising, despite common misconceptions, that solar panels do still work on cloudy days and even generate some power in winter, amounting to around a fifth of the output of a day in June or July.
That may not be a huge amount, but it is certainly well worth what you can knock off your winter energy bills.