While balcony photovoltaic (PV) systems are gaining more popularity, especially in Europe, rooftop PV systems have also been developing rapidly, being applied in both residential and commercial scenarios widely. This enables an increasing number of users can enjoy convenient and efficient clean energy.

What is a rooftop PV system?

Rooftop PV system, as the name suggests, is a PV system installed on the rooftop. It has a relatively simple structure and is mainly used for residential or small-scale commercial rooftops. In the context of rapid urban development, many users without independent rooftops tend to choose balcony PV systems for their daily household electricity needs. However, for users with available rooftops, the vast unused rooftop space proves to be a better option, especially for commercial users who have higher electricity demands for company operations.

What are the advantages of a rooftop PV system?

1.Clean and Renewable Energy:

One of the most compelling reasons to install rooftop PV system at home is their ability to generate clean and renewable energy. Unlike traditional methods of electricity generation, solar energy produces no harmful emissions or greenhouse gases. By utilizing sunlight, solar panels convert this abundant and free resource into electricity. By adopting solar power, homeowners actively contribute to reducing their carbon footprint and combating climate change.

2.Cost Savings:

Solar energy offers significant cost savings in the long run. While the initial investment in installing solar panels may seem substantial, the long-term financial benefits outweigh the upfront costs. Once installed, solar panels generate electricity that can power your home, reducing your reliance on grid electricity. Depending on your location and energy consumption, you may even produce excess electricity that can be sold back to the grid, earning you credits or monetary compensation. Over time, solar panels can lead to substantial savings on your energy bills.

3.Energy Independence:

By installing rooftop PV system, homeowners gain a degree of energy independence. Reliance on traditional energy sources exposes households to rising electricity prices and potential power outages. Solar power allows homeowners to generate their own electricity, reducing their dependence on the grid. This independence offers peace of mind during emergencies and ensures a stable energy supply, even in remote areas or during natural disasters.

4.Durability and Low Maintenance:

Solar panels are built to withstand various weather conditions and have a long lifespan. High-quality solar panels can last for several decades with minimal maintenance requirements. Routine cleaning and periodic inspection are generally sufficient to ensure optimal performance. Additionally, reputable solar panel manufacturers often provide warranties that cover any manufacturing defects or performance issues, further enhancing their reliability and peace of mind for homeowners.

5.Increasing Property Value:

Investing in rooftop PV system can increase the value of your property. As more homebuyers recognize the benefits of sustainable living, properties equipped with solar panels are becoming increasingly desirable. Studies have shown that homes with solar panels sell faster and at higher prices compared to those without. Therefore, installing solar panels is not only an investment in energy savings but also an investment in the value of your property.

How to install a rooftop PV system?

First, conduct an on-site survey of the rooftop’s current condition and determine the system capacity and design. During system design, environmental conditions should be taken into consideration, such as the angle of sunlight and shading from parapets and trees, to tailor the design to the specific location. Moreover, different types of roofs require different solutions. For concrete roofs, confirm the appropriate module inclination angle first, then calculate the front and rear spacing, and plan the installation layout. For corrugated steel sheet roofs, modules are typically installed in a flat manner with gaps of more than 0.5 meters left between arrays for ease of future maintenance.

Next, taking project requirements, costs, and other factors into account, select suitable PV equipment. Currently, 400W to 800W PV modules are popularly accepted by the market. Combine these with microinverter specifications to determine the maximum number of units per branch. Then, calculate the number of microinverters and corresponding auxiliary materials based on the system capacity and module layout. Subsequently, finalize the microinverter pre-installation positions and bus layout to complete the system design. The system installation and testing will be carried out by professional personnel until the successful power supply and grid connection.

How to maintain a rooftop PV system?

Given the multi-module, multi-inverter system design of rooftop PV systems, implementing module-level monitoring is a crucial factor in ensuring stable operation. The monitoring system of microinverters can perfectly meet this requirement, simplifying and enhancing the operational efficiency of the power station. Taking the BENY microinverter as an example, it is equipped with an Energy Monitoring Unit (EMU) and uses Wi-Fi or PLCC communication methods to transmit data. Users can access and analyze real-time, daily, monthly, and yearly production data, which is stored in the cloud. In the event of a system failure, it can also help personnel quickly locate and resolve issues, ensuring uninterrupted operation to meet power supply demands.

BENY rooftop PV solutions

Given the varying orientations, scattered distribution, and diverse capacities of rooftop PV systems, the BENY microinverter, with its modular design and strong adaptability, perfectly matches rooftop PV systems.

BENY offers microinverters with different power outputs ranging from 2000W to 2800W to match varying capacities and layout of PV systems. Each microinverter features four independent Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) modules, with each module allowing parallel input of two or more solar panels and a max. input current of 24A. This means that it can better utilize solar resources, making it more efficient compared to other solutions. Moreover, the low operating voltage design below 60V significantly enhances the safety of system installation and maintenance.

BENY microinverters utilize top-tier chips and power devices from top domestic and international manufacturers (such as NXP automotive-grade chips). And they are also equipped with built-in relays and have passed VDE standard certification, which ensures high quality and performance stability. With the widest operating temperature range of -40°C to +70°C and superior heat dissipation design, BENY microinverters can maintain a high output power ratio even in high-temperature environments of up to 70°C. Additionally, BENY offers a warranty of up to 25 years, alleviating user concerns for the long term.

Furthermore, the PV-BYPO parallel optimizer can be employed to interconnect 8 PV modules together. It increases the output current of the PV array to obtain greater output power while achieving ultra-low voltage and extremely low energy loss. A storage system can be added to the rooftop PV system, especially for residential users. Under conditions of abundant sunlight and when daily electricity demands are met, the excess power can be stored in batteries, enabling nighttime power supply or serving as a backup power source during poor lighting conditions or grid outages. With the combination of EMU and gateway, users can monitor and manage the operation of the PV system, accessing current and historical generation data anytime through a cloud platform or BYM Cloud App.

With its exceptional efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental-friendly features, rooftop PV systems are rapidly gaining prominence in market. By fully utilizing rooftop space, these systems provide reliable clean energy for both households and small-scale businesses, along with abundant economic and environmental benefits. Whether for meeting daily electricity demands or optimizing energy management strategies, BENY microinverter solutions, characterized by superior quality, stable performance, and strong adaptability, offer the optimal choice for rooftop PV systems, which contribute to the progressive development of more sustainable world and transition to greener future.