Capacity is easy to compare. Design discipline is harder to see.
Two systems of identical size can behave very differently over time, and almost none of that difference is visible in a headline kilowatt figure.
What layout actually influences
- Shading interaction between rows through the year, not just at midday in June
- Cable resistance losses
- Airflow and thermal behaviour, which directly affects output on the hottest days
- Ease of servicing, and therefore the real cost of maintenance
- Long-term system stability
The tightly packed roof problem
A tightly packed roof may look efficient on a layout drawing. But if spacing, airflow and access are compromised, performance drops and maintenance complexity increases. You have bought more panels and less generation per panel, and made every future visit slower.
Solar rewards careful planning. It exposes shortcuts.
A better question for proposals
When reviewing competing proposals, price per kW is the easiest thing to compare and one of the least informative. More useful questions: what is the row spacing and why; what does the shading analysis show across the full year; how does anyone safely reach the far corner of the array in year twelve.
Panel count makes headlines. Geometry protects performance.
Wondering what your own roof could support? We will model it against your half-hourly data and tell you straight.
Get a free assessment