Photovoltaics on the north side generates 30 to 40 percent less electricity than under optimal conditions. The flatter the roof, the more yield. In diffuse light, a PV system on the north roof produces just as much solar power as other roof sides.
For a long time there was no doubt about a north-facing PV system. It was considered pointless. But now, thanks to modern technology, this has changed and you can see more and more solar modules on north-facing roofs. Find out in this article whether a north-facing photovoltaic system could make sense in your case too.
First things first
In diffuse light the same
A north-facing PV system produces just as much solar power in diffuse light as on other sides of the roof.
Technology has caught up
Modern photovoltaic modules can produce much more solar power in low light.
Flat is good
Je flatter the angle of inclination, the more yield a solar system on the north roof will deliver.
Self-consumption is important
A PV system on the north side will only be profitable if you get most of the electricity consume yourself.
How high are the PV yields on the north roof?
If you want a quick answer to this question, take a look at the following figure. It shows the yield depending on the orientation and tilt angle of the solar modules.
But in addition to the roof orientation, the roof pitch, the choice of solar modules and your own consumption should also be taken into account. Let's take a closer look at these points.
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The correct roof pitch for photovoltaics on the north side
To the PV yield To maximize the efficiency of the system, north-facing systems should have roofs with as flat an incline as possible. This minimizes the shading of the system by the roof.
If the installation area is facing north, the rule of thumb is: the flatter, the better. While with an inclination of 35° only around 60% of the electricity yield can be achieved compared to a southerly orientation, this value increases to up to 70% with an inclination of 20°.
But be careful: if the inclination angle is less than 7°, problems arise with the self-cleaning ability of the system. Rainwater cannot drain away ideally in such a situation. As a result, dirt particles are hardly removed and there is even a risk of algae or moss forming.
Snow also hardly slides off the solar system at such low module inclination angles, thus reducing the power output unnecessarily. In the worst case, too much snow can damage the PV modules.
The right solar modules are important
Technical advances in solar modules have meant that good yields can now be achieved even on north-facing roofs. This was previously unthinkable.
Modern PV modules have significantly better low-light performance than their predecessors. This means that diffuse light in particular can be used well, the proportion of which is particularly high in north-facing locations. On days with a solid cloud cover, the electricity yields on the north side are comparable to those on the south side of a roof.
A particularly good option for photovoltaic systems on the north side is a combination of thin-film and crystalline solar cells. Specifically, we can recommend the glass-glass modules from Solarwatt, as they deliver very good results in low light.
In addition to the technology used, it is also important to remember that photovoltaic modules on the north side heat up less and therefore suffer less loss in efficiency than on a south-facing roof. The drop in electricity yield is therefore not proportional to the drop in radiation.
Self-consumption becomes even more important
In addition to better technology, the political framework also plays a role in the fact that solar systems on the north side are now often economically viable.
The feed-in tariff guaranteed by the state has been significantly reduced in recent years, while end-customer prices for electricity have increased considerably.
It is therefore particularly worthwhile for operators of solar systems to use as much of the electricity produced as possible themselves and not feed it into the grid.
In combination with intelligent storage solutions, north-facing PV systems can also ensure high self-consumption, which can result in very good returns on the system.
Against this background, the peak yields of a south-facing solar system in bright sunshine are not the primary indicator of profitability. In such situations, so much solar power is often produced that it cannot be used or stored for later use, which is why it has to be fed into the grid at a relatively unprofitable rate.
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When is photovoltaics on the north side not worthwhile?
Although photovoltaics on north-facing roofs offers a lot of potential, a solar system is not worthwhile for all of these areas:
- Low self-consumption: Such a system is not advisable, for example, if your own electricity consumption is low. A system that is primarily intended to feed electricity into the grid is hardly economically viable to operate on a north-facing site due to the low feed-in tariff.
- Steep inclination angle: In addition, north-facing roofs with a steep incline are not suitable for a solar system due to the long-lasting shadow of the photovoltaic modules.
- No equity: But even if the roof area is in principle suitable for a solar system, it should only be built if it can be financed with equity. Rent or interest greatly reduces the return on the system. In most cases, such externally financed systems are not economically viable.
- Better alternatives: Finally, northern areas should only be used if no other and more suitable areas are available or are already occupied.
In other cases, the north side is usually worth it for a photovoltaic system, especially if you want to produce solar power in winter too.
Photovoltaics on the north side: yes or no?
A PV system facing north produces 30 to 40 percent less yield than a system facing south. The following applies: the flatter the roof pitch for a north-facing system, the better. With diffuse light, a north-facing roof generates just as much solar power as other roof sides.
And yet a solar system facing north can still be economically viable. A roof that is as flat as possible and the use of modern solar modules ultimately enable acceptable yields even on the north side.
The economic efficiency of the system is influenced in particular by the realized self-consumption and less by the lower peak yields compared to a south-facing orientation.
Despite the diverse potential of a north-facing solar system, south, west or east facing areas are preferable if they are available. However, if these areas cannot be used, the option of using north facing areas should definitely be considered. After all, if they are not used, a lot of potential yields are lost.
