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How does the installation of a solar carport work?

27-03-2025 Shift to Solar As a company, are you thinking about making your car park more sustainable with a solar carport? Good idea: you generate your own green electricity, save energy costs and provide your employees or visitors with a comfortable loading and parking space. But how does the installation actually work? In this blog, we explain step by step what to expect: from advice to completion. 1. Introduction and orientation Everything starts with a no-obligation consultation. During this acquaintance, we look at it together: Based on this, we give an initial advice. This will tell you immediately whether a solar carport suits your situation and what your options are. View preview 70+ pages of inspiration Product magazine Sustainability starts here. All solutions at a glance. A complete magazine full of projects, product explanations and practical examples. From solar carports and home batteries to charging plazas and solar panels. Everything Shift to Solar can do for you, in one place. Complete product overviewCarports, batteries, panels, parking & charging stations Real case studies with yield, kWh and CO₂-impact Business and private individualsOne section for your situation Free & no-obligationDirectly in your mailbox, no obligations Download the brochure View first Brochure preview Sustainability starts here 1 / 4 Like what you see? Receive the complete brochure directly in your mailbox. Request the

Mandatory solar panels over car parks

28-11-2024 Shift to Solar The House of Representatives has taken an important step towards a more sustainable Netherlands. A motion requiring solar panels over car parks was passed by a large majority. This legislation, tabled by D66, focuses on smart use of space and accelerating the energy transition. What does this mean for business owners? How can you as an organisation comply with these new requirements? At Shift to Solar, we are ready to support you. What does the new law entail? From 2030, the installation of solar panels will become mandatory over large car parks. This measure aims to make the best use of available space. At the same time, it contributes to the generation of sustainable energy. The Netherlands has over 50 km² of car parks, a huge opportunity for large-scale energy generation. The motion also calls for subsidies to make these projects more attractive. Consider the Energy Investment Allowance (EIA). This allows entrepreneurs to deduct 45.5% of their investment costs from their taxable profit. In addition, the SDE++ scheme offers compensation per kilowatt-hour generated. For sites with limited grid capacity, there are additional opportunities for energy storage with business battery storage. View preview 70+ page inspiration Product magazine Sustainability starts here. All solutions at a glance. A complete magazine full of projects, product explanations and practical examples. From solar carports and home batteries to charging plazas and solar panels.

solar panel maintenance

How often do solar panels need maintenance?

23-09-2024 Shift to Solar Solar panels are known for being low-maintenance, but they are not completely maintenance-free. Although rain ensures that much dirt is washed away from the panels, dirt can accumulate. Think of bird droppings, stuck leaves, green deposits or other dirt. So to ensure that your solar panels continue to perform optimally, it is imperative that you maintain them regularly. In this article, we have compiled all the information you need to maintain your solar panels optimally. Do solar panels need a lot of maintenance? Typically, solar panels require little maintenance. Most types of solar panels are designed to provide energy for years without problems, without needing thorough maintenance. This is mainly due to the fact that panels have no moving parts, this makes them less prone to wear and tear. But, this doesn't mean you don't need to look after them. By regularly checking your solar panels, you can spot small problems early before they lead to bigger issues. View preview 70+ page inspiration Product magazine Sustainability starts here. All solutions at a glance. A complete magazine full of projects, product explanations and practical examples. From solar carports and home batteries to charging plazas and solar panels. All

permit solar panels

Do you need a permit for solar panels?

08-09-2024 Shift to Solar Are you planning to install solar panels, but not sure whether you need an environmental permit to do so? In this article, we explain the rules and regulations surrounding the installation of solar panels. The answer to this question is not straightforward and depends on several factors. For instance, you need to take into account the location where the panels will be installed, and the type of building is also important. In this article, you will find all the information you need. How can you check whether you need a permit? You can easily check whether or not you need a permit with the Omgevingsloket's Permit Check. In this handy government tool, you can quickly see whether you need an environmental permit for your specific situation. You enter details about the location of the installation and your further plans for the solar panels. The tool then immediately gives you an indication of whether an environmental permit is required. View preview 70+ page inspiration Product magazine Sustainability starts here. All solutions at a glance. A complete magazine full of projects, product explanations and practical examples. From solar carports and home batteries to charging plazas and solar panels. Everything Shift to Solar for you

roof not suitable for solar panels

What to do if your roof is not suitable for solar panels?

23-07-2024 Shift to Solar Do you want to become more sustainable with solar panels, but is your roof not suitable for this? This can be the case, for example, with listed buildings, outdated roofs or roofs with too little sun. And even if you live in a flat or rented house, panels are often not an option. Fortunately, there are alternatives you can consider if you would still like to use solar panels. Below, we share options for people who rent a house or flat and for people who want to own their own solar panels, but where the roof of their house is not suitable. Alternatives to solar panels on your roof Is your roof not suitable for solar panels? There are smart solutions that will still allow you to benefit from solar energy. Below are the most popular alternatives for private and business applications. For private individuals You can also harness solar energy without a suitable roof. Think of a solar carport or a stylish veranda with solar panels. This way, you generate green electricity in your garden and still save on your energy bill. View carport View veranda For businesses You can also generate sustainable electricity for businesses without a roof installation. For example, choose a solar carport for your car park or a bicycle shed with solar panels for employees and visitors. View carport

lifetime of solar panels

Life of solar panels: how long do they last?

16-07-2024 Shift to Solar Solar panels are a hefty investment. Therefore, you want to be sure that your solar panels will last a good while. What is the expected lifespan of solar panels and what should you pay attention to? Lifetime solar panels Solar panels usually last more than 25 years. In the first 10 years, they deliver maximum yield. After that, the yield decreases slightly every year, this is called degradation. After 25 years, the efficiency of most solar panels drops to 80% and, depending on the manufacturer, the warranty expires. This can vary by type of solar panel and by provider, so always look carefully at the conditions that apply. Product warranty The product warranty, also called manufacturer's warranty, covers the quality and operation of the solar modules. This warranty ranges from 10 to 25 years, depending on the manufacturer. For inverters, the warranty is usually 5 to 10 years. Optimisers often have a 25-year warranty. Power guarantee The power guarantee indicates how much energy a solar panel still produces over time. Manufacturers usually guarantee that their panels will still deliver 80-85% of their original power after 25 years. View preview 70+ page inspiration Product magazine Sustainability starts here. All solutions at a glance. A complete magazine full of projects, product explanations and practical examples. From solar carports

electric car charging with solar panels

Charging electric car with solar panels, how does it work?

28-06-2024 Shift to Solar You can charge your electric car via a charging station; the electricity will simply come from the grid. But it is also possible to charge your electric car with green electricity from solar panels. The solar power is then distributed between your home and your charging station. How exactly does this work? And how many solar panels do you need for this? How many solar panels do I need to charge a car? This depends on the consumption of your car and the yield of your solar panels, but we can give an estimate. If you drive 15,000 km on an annual basis, you will need around 2,445 kWh. According to the Consumers' Association, new solar panels each produce around 300 kWh of electricity per year. An average electric car then needs 8 to 10 solar panels to run on solar power. Keep in mind that solar panels produce the most energy on sunny days, so not all year round. View preview 70+ page inspiration Product magazine Sustainability starts here. All solutions at a glance. A complete magazine full of projects, product explanations and practical examples. From solar carports and home batteries to charging plazas and solar panels. Everything Shift to Solar can do for you, in one place. Complete product overviewCarports, batteries,

balancing system solar panels roof

End of energy-saving scheme? These are the new cabinet's plans

18-06-2024 Shift to Solar The energy-saving scheme makes solar panels more attractive for many people. The previous cabinet wanted to phase out the energy-saving scheme step by step from 2025 to 2031, but the Senate voted against this bill. For a while that seemed like good news for solar panel owners, but now the new cabinet wants to abolish the balancing scheme altogether from 2027. Whether this will actually happen remains to be seen. What is the solar panel net-metering scheme? The net-metering scheme was created in 2004 to encourage the use of renewable energy. The net-metering scheme allows owners of solar panels to supply the electricity they generate but do not use directly to the grid. This returned energy is then deducted from the annual energy bill, with no energy tax payable on this amount. If you generate more electricity with your solar panels than you use yourself, you will receive compensation from your energy supplier for the surplus. This compensation is usually lower than the price you pay for consuming electricity. The exact fee can vary from one supplier to another. View preview 70+ pagesspiration Product magazine Sustainability starts here. All solutions at a glance. A complete magazine full of projects, product explanations and practical examples. From solar carports and home batteries to charging plazas and solar panels.

roof suitable for solar panels or not

Is my roof suitable for solar panels?

07-06-2024 Shift to Solar Want to install solar panels but not sure if your roof is suitable? Fortunately, solar panels are suitable for most roofs. However, there are some things to consider, such as the available space, the angle of inclination and possible shade. Read more about the possibilities for your roof. Do I have enough space for solar panels? This seems like a simple sum where you divide the area of your roof by the area of a solar panel (1.65 m2), but there is much more to it. For example, on a sloping roof, the panels must be 20 centimetres from the ridge and eaves. And for a flat roof, it is important that the panels are not placed too close together. An average area of 2.5 m2 per solar panel is then taken into account. You can do this check on Milieucentraal. To do this, you need the following information: Installing solar panels is a custom job. It is advisable to check with a professional to see whether there is enough space for solar panels and whether they will yield a sufficient return. You can always make a no-obligation appointment with our advisers. View preview 70+ page inspiration Product magazine Sustainability starts here. All solutions at a glance

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