Thinking of starting your solar energy adventure? It's a wise choice, both for the environment and your wallet.
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Solar panels
Everything about photovoltaic solar energy in French-speaking Switzerland.
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Choosing the right type of photovoltaic installation is crucial to optimise energy production and aesthetic integration with your home. There are mainly three types of installations:
The solar panels directly replace elements of the roof, such as tiles or slates. This aesthetic solution integrates harmoniously with the architecture of the house. The panels thus become a constituent element of the roof.
The panels are fixed to the existing roof using brackets and hooks. It is the most common solution, simpler and less expensive to implement than building integration.
Photovoltaic panels are installed on a load-bearing structure on the ground, in the garden or on available land, for example. This solution is ideal if your roof is not suitable for installing solar panels (orientation, shading, etc.).
Photovoltaic facades represent a less common solution than roof installation, but they can prove interesting in certain situations, particularly in urban areas or for buildings with distinctive architecture. It consists of integrating the panels directly into the facade of the building, thus replacing a traditional construction element.
The power of your photovoltaic installation depends on your electricity needs and the surface available to install the right number of panels. A qualified installer will carry out a personalised study to determine the optimal power for your situation. They will advise you on the choice of inverter, connection to the grid and commissioning.
The choice of solar panels is essential to the performance and durability of your installation. There are different types of solar panels, each with its own characteristics. Here are the main models available on the market:
Made from a single silicon crystal, they have a uniform black or dark blue colour. They offer the best energy yield.
Composed of several silicon crystals, they are cheaper than monocrystalline panels, but offer a slightly lower yield. They have a more fragmented blue colour.
These panels consist of thin layers of semiconductor materials deposited on a substrate (glass, plastic, metal). Lighter and more flexible, they perform less well in terms of yield, but adapt to more complex surfaces.
Besides the type of panel, other criteria are important to take into account for solar installations:
A qualified installer will help you choose the solar panels best suited to your needs and budget. Do not hesitate to compare offers and ask questions to make the best choice.
The orientation and inclination of your solar panels have a direct impact on their electricity production, and therefore on the profitability of the installation. Ideally, the panels should be oriented due south with an inclination of around 30 degrees in Switzerland. A qualified installer will know how to optimise the installation according to the specifics of your roof.
You can choose to consume the electricity produced by your solar panels or resell it to the grid. Self-consumption is encouraged by the public authorities and helps reduce your electricity bill. Installing a storage battery optimises your personal electricity consumption.
The cost of a photovoltaic installation varies according to the power, the type of panels, the complexity of the installation and the region. Bear in mind that several subsidies and grants are available to reduce the cost of the investment and maximise the profitability of photovoltaic panels.
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