How I choose the solar panel

How do we choose a suitable solar panel system?

What are the criteria to guide me in choosing the best solution? I have no training in the field, but now I want to make an investment in an alternative energy system based on solar energy. Who can advise me professionally? Can I, as an amateur in the field, make a choice today that I won't regret later?

There are some questions that make you turn to us and ask for advice about a new field in which even specialized companies still have a lot to learn.

Concrete recommendations

From the start we must know what we want:

Solar panels for domestic hot water or/and solar panels for heating and DHW (domestic hot water)?

1. If we want a solar panel system only for domestic hot water, we have to think about whether we need it only during the spring-autumn period or throughout the year. This aspect clarified, we will look for a system according to performance or according to price.

A cheap solar panel will have the advantage of a relatively low initial cost, and over time (years) an increasingly reduced yield.

A high-performance solar system is initially more expensive (not by much) but comfortable in terms of performance/service over the years.

The choice in this case is relatively easy because the manufacturers of solar panels already have predefined models according to the water storage capacities, precisely to facilitate the choice by consumers of the right system according to the daily need of hot water.

2. If we want a system of solar panels that will help us with heating and also produce DHW, we must know that it will be from the start only throughout the year. This is where things get complicated and variables appear such as: what is the area of ​​the house; with what and how we currently heat it; how can we know concretely what solar input we have in winter. These elements will be professionally evaluated through computer simulation. It is extremely important that in addition to the "words" there is concretely an anticipated evaluation of the energy saved during the winter.

Careful! They have two houses ever different solar yield as input to heating, NEVER as well, depending on their specific characteristics.

This intake can be from approx. 5% to even over 50% during the cold season.

Other elements also appear along the way: vacuum tubes or flat/flat solar panels during the summer; what do I do with excess hot water; I can heat the pool with thermal solar panels; can i complete the system in time?

Specialized consultation is necessary in choosing an optimal solar system for each individual requirement. We can do it "alone" only by allocating time, study and investment in specialized training, as well as having access to information to which only specialized companies can have access due to the nature of the specific object of activity, as well as the commercial relationship we have with manufacturers with experience from western Europe.

Taking into account some clear criteria we can use solar energy to our advantage without unpleasant experiences on our money.