Have you considered making the shift to solar power? Solar power in 2023 is available without the need to place panels on your home’s roof. Consider having a solar-powered home without the risk of causing damage to your existing roof or losing curb appeal. Those unsightly panels can now be relocated to the backyard using a solar patio cover.
It used to be extremely difficult to mount solar panels on patio covers until solar-ready patio covers arrived. Solar panels require a large amount of room to be cost-effective, but with solar-ready patio covers, you may have as much space as you need.
What are Solar Patio Covers?
Solar patio covers are a new type of solar system that employs a structure other than your house or business’s roof as the framing for a solar system installation. These designs are usually known as “solar pergolas.“
Although the majority of small-scale solar installations are on roofs, not all roofs are suitable for solar. Fortunately, if you have enough room, there are a variety of additional solar panel system designs to choose from. Ground-mounted solar systems, solar carports, and solar trees are among them, and now solar patio covers and solar gazebos can be added to the list.
Benefits of Solar Patio Covers?
Solar patio covers have the advantage of not requiring any more land. Panels can be put on an existing building, or you can include solar panels into a concept that you’ve been contemplating for your house.
Solar patio covers are a terrific solution for homes with less-than-ideal roofs or for homeowners concerned about curb appeal, but they aren’t only for homes.
These independent solar structures are a fantastic fit for restaurants, cafes, and other commercial facilities with outside seating: they provide comfort for guests while also providing electricity, which lowers operating expenses.
How Much A Solar Panel Patio Cover Costs in 2023?
The truth is that the cost of a solar patio cover varies widely and can range anywhere from $5000 to $32000, depending on multiple factors. One factor includes the size of solar patio you require, the bigger the size the more solar panels you need for patio cover, hence higher the price.
Moreover, if you choose to go with a professional help instead of DIY installation the solar panel patio cover cost will rise further.
Understand Solar Patio Cover Cost with Example
A basic 10ft by 10ft patio cover should cost roughly $1500 to build, excluding the solar panels. This equates to $15 per square foot of building.
Given that this space can fit roughly 12 standard-sized solar panels and that solar panels cost $3 per watt, the project’s total cost, including labor, might reach $4000.
This configuration should save you around $70 on your electricity bill, which is a significant savings. With a solar panel cover for a pergola/patio, the average return on investment is about 8%.
What to choose between Rooftop Solar & Solar Patio Cover?
For most residences, the rooftop has the biggest surface area and is the most exposed to the sun. It is also usually convenient to place solar panels there because it requires little building or modification. Because of these factors, roof-mounted solar panels have remained the most popular choice for households.
One option to examine is ground-mounted solar panels. They do, however, have one major drawback: they demand a significant quantity of real estate, space that cannot be used for anything else.
This is when solar patio coverings come into play. Because they are all dual-purpose structures, they take up less area than a ground-mounted system. You may already have one of these structures in your backyard that you can easily adapt or alter to accommodate solar panels.
Can you put panels on a patio cover?
Installing solar panels on a patio cover is a great idea. Solar panels can be included into a new patio cover’s design or put on the roof of an existing building. Installing solar panels on roof of patio cover will allow you to gather the sun’s energy while also blocking it.
You’ll have the best of both worlds: a shady location to hang out with friends and family while also saving money on power. Furthermore, solar panel installation generally qualifies you for state and federal government incentives.
When constructing a freestanding solar patio cover, the placement must be carefully considered. Importantly, the patio cover should be placed in an area of your yard where guests & family can readily reach it.
Second, it should be exposed to the light from the south in order to capture as much energy as feasible. Third, you might want to try tilting the cover’s roof to maximize the efficacy of the panels.
If you’re going to put solar panels on an open lattice patio cover, make sure they’re clear. These panels collect energy while allowing 15% of the light to pass through.
Conclusion
Because constructing a standalone solar patio cover is more difficult than putting solar panels on your roof, you may need to hire a specialist solar installer to design one for you. You may also look at solar panel patio cover kit and DIY solar choices if you’re looking for a smaller off-grid system.
