Type of house
Rental homes
Without permission from your landlord or housing corporation, you cannot install solar panels.
Owner-occupied homes
If you live in an apartment or flat, the roof is shared. Solar panels can only be installed if the other residents approve it through the homeowners’ association (VVE).
In principle, you can install solar panels on your detached house, semi-detached house, or terraced house without needing a permit. However, if you live in a listed building or a protected cityscape, you will need permission from the municipality.
Roof orientation
South-facing roofs are the most suitable for solar panels as they maximize direct sunlight exposure. East- and west-facing roofs are also viable options. North-facing roofs can be more challenging due to insufficient direct sunlight. Our advisors always try to find a solution to get the most out of every roof.
The roof pitch also impacts the efficiency of solar panels. The optimal pitch is 35°, as it allows the most direct sunlight. However, for north-facing solar panels, a smaller pitch is preferable. For example, north-facing solar panels with a 10° pitch can be as efficient as south-facing ones with an 80° pitch.
The solar irradiation factor indicates how much direct sunlight a roof receives—the higher the percentage, the better the roof orientation. This factor depends on the roof’s direction and pitch. A south-facing roof with a 35–70° pitch offers the ideal conditions, achieving 100% irradiation factor. In contrast, north-facing roofs with a pitch of over 85° only achieve 40% irradiation factor.
Roof type
Solar panels can be installed on almost all roof types, including flat, pitched, green roofs (sedum), garages, sheds, and dormer roofs. Our specialists assess each situation to determine the best installation method.
For different roofing materials (such as tiles, corrugated sheets, and bitumen), we use specialized mounting systems. Even old roof tiles are no issue; we use the Clickfit system, which prevents tile damage.
Slanted roofs
For slanted roofs, we commonly use the Schletter mounting system, a robust system that ensures both the panels and roof remain undamaged.
Flat roofs
Flat roofs typically require mounting structures to install solar panels. These structures are weighted down with extra ballast to secure them in place. Using these structures improves efficiency compared to laying the panels flat.
On flat roofs we usually use the SunBeam mounting system, because it's a very robust miunting system that requires less ballast to stay in place. That way you'll have less pressure of weight on the roof which can be benficial in the long term.
My roof is suitable, what’s next?
If your roof meets the necessary criteria, you can use our calculation tool to estimate the potential energy output of your solar panels. If you’d like more details about your specific situation, you can schedule a free consultation with one of our experts.
