So if you can mount them for cheap, you can get a cheaper system overall even if you need more panels to get the same total system output.
Plus cleaning panels on your roof when it snows it a huge problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AVO1IyfA9M
His conclusion is the vertical generate about 70% of optimal incline cells. The charge profile has two peaks, one in the morning, one in the evening. I can imagine using the vertical orientation for a fence. It would definitely keep them cleaner too.
femto•9mo ago
The way solar panel prices are going, my suspicion is that the most economical way to get a reliable home system is to massively over specify the solar array so it puts out a decent amount of power on the worst possible day. The electronics would be sized to account for your maximum usage, even if that means dumping energy when the array output exceeds what you need. A battery would be sized to simply last overnight, on the assumption that the oversized solar array will be able to fully recharge it the next day whatever the weather. It would only be worth upgrading the electronics/battery if a buyer/money earner could be found for the excess capacity. I need to do the numbers to see if this hypothesis is true.
tupshin•9mo ago
I believe you are mostly right with the addition of * shift power consumption to summer months. * wood heat in the winter and electric air conditioning in the summer. * electric-expensive hobbies in the summer (e.g. welding) * with low winter consumption, multi day battery operation becomes feasible * small dual fuel generator and a propane tank to recharge the battery bank in emergencies and extended outages with little solar production