Solar PV energy, unlike other renewable sources, is available in most places. Because, every part of the Earth receives some amount of sunlight. However, certain other factors may effect performance of solar panels. To analyse if solar will yield good results, take a look at the position of your home, particularly your roof. Ask the following questions:
Is there good southern exposure?
Solar panels facing to the south are most effective in energy collection. So, check if the shape or construction of roof allows mounting of south facing panels.
Is the exposure free of shadows of trees or buildings?
Shading on photovoltaic panels dramatically reduces their effectiveness. So, check if taller buildings or trees will directly shade panels or drop debris/leaves on them.
What is the pitch of your roof?
Most roofs, from flat to 60-degrees can accommodate photovoltaic panels. However, it might be difficult to mount them if for some reasons the pitch of the roof is steeper than 60-degrees.
In bright sunlight, a square foot of conventional photovoltaic panels yields around 10 watts of power. However, when shading, spacing and walkway arrangements are factored in, PV systems yield around 5 watts per square foot. That is a handy rule of thumb for roughly estimating area you might need. For example, a 1000 watt system may need 100 – 200 square feet of area. Required area varies according to the type of PV module used.