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How much will shade cost you?

Sketch the buildings and trees around your panels. PVGIS solar data works out how much output you lose, month by month.

1Which way will the panels face?

South

The best direction for solar.

2Sketch what’s around them

Stand where the panels will go. Drag on the dial to draw buildings and trees: further from the edge means taller. A fist at arm’s length is about 10°.

30°60°NESW
Fine-tune each direction
3Where do you live?

Leave it blank to use Birmingham.

Yearly output lost to shading

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Sketch your horizon, then work it out.

  • The yellow slice is the way your panels face: obstacles there cost the most.
  • Behind the panels (north, for a south-facing kit) matters very little.
  • Save the result and every estimate on the site uses it.

From PVGIS 5.3 with your horizon, compared with open ground at the same spot. Shade falling on part of a panel can cost more than this.

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Plan the rest of your setup