Energy Assessment, Analysis, Design and Installation of Optimal Photovoltaic Array on a Residential Rooftop

Adding a photovoltaic (solar) array to a rooftop could be an overwhelming project for the average do-it-yourself (DIY) homeowner. There are many areas of research and engineering that are involved in properly designing a system that will not only function well, but will last a lifetime and fall within the rules and regulations too. The object of this project is to guide the average DIY homeowner through the process of analyzing, designing, and installing a photovoltaic (PV) solar array on a residential rooftop. The pages below will list the steps needed to design a system and provide an example of a residential design along the way. The occupant envelope provided as the example for this project uses a 16.5 kW solar array and, with government incentives, attained a final payback period of 14 years. With the information provided in this guide, one can design a proper sized PV array, apply the best fit energy efficiencies, analyze a rooftop for proper installation, and determine the payback period associated with the combined improvements.