Most folks’ first thought when they hear the words “home solar” is of a rooftop array. But ground mounted systems have been around just as long, are just as reliable and affordable — and for some customers, they’re by far the best choice.

Roof mounted solar is great, but it doesn’t work for everyone. For instance: certain roof types, like slate, aren’t suited for holding solar panels. Or, if your roof surface area is too small, or it’s not south-facing, or it’s shaded by trees or other structures, putting panels up there isn’t the most economical choice. For these customers, we often recommend a ground mounted solar system that won’t be limited by the size, condition, or orientation of their roof. A ground mount array can be placed in the sunniest part of the yard and oriented precisely to maximize solar production. For some folks, installing more panels in a ground mounted array is actually a better financial outcome than putting fewer panels on their roof because of how much more sun they’ll capture on the ground!

Solar systems are designed to last for decades, and many homeowners find that during that time, they need to repair or replace their roofs. With a ground mounted array, you’ll never have to worry about the additional cost of removing and then reinstalling your solar panels when you need to reroof your home. Additionally, if your solar panels themselves ever need servicing, having them at ground level is more convenient for troubleshooting and repairs.

We don’t install “tracker” systems that follow the sun, because it’s usually more cost effective to install a stationary array that’s directly facing the sunniest part of the sky. With a tracker, you’ll gain solar production, but you’ll pay more for the moving parts and computer components up front, and potentially in years to come, you’ll pay more for repairs.

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