Solar PV Residential Grid-Tie System for Optimizing Installation and Performance

With the greening of the US power grid most of the available landscape and resource investment lays with residential home owners. Historically homes were not built with green technology in mind. Roof faces do not always face south, nor are they always at optimum angles. Existing homes are often shaded by old growth trees. This paper covers decision-making tools for cost, performance, layout, and labor optimization. It also includes a case study from a residential solar PV system in suburbia Detroit, Michigan; and goes further into possible improvements to the system after initial installation and their cost effectiveness.