I think we're possibly saying the same thing
Indeed
once you have the scaffolding up so it can be cost effective (although woudl you be able to access the west roof if you put scaffolding up on the east? maybe more expensive than that
Yes, I'd assumed 2x as much scaffolding would be needed - bonus if they can access both sides of the roof from one side
- but I doubt it would cost 2x the price - they have still got to come out for the quote, and to put the scaffolding up, and take it down, and the the Admin for the invoice etc.
There's also a point that having generation earlier and later in the day is more useable than having massive generation in the middle, I suspect this is only an effect for a month or so however.
IME its several Summer months. When I have a mo. I'll have a look at the "start" time for my East array during last Summer. I also have a South array, but I only have combined data logged, not for each of them independently unfortunately.
I had a full-sun day yesterday, the East was producing 1kW at 08:10 and the South at 09:25 - its an isolated reading though and might have been impacted by passing clouds etc. (my recollection is that the lead-time of East (and the lag-time of West) is less than that)
It's all not really relevant as most won't choose
Yes, and that was the point which I wanted to make - but did so badly. Either way, we are stuck with the roof alignment, and don't have a choice!
If my neighbour has a South roof, and I have an East West roof, then if he covers his South roof and I only cover my East (or my West) I'll get 15% less electricity than him (for the same sized roof area and same installation cost, let's assume)
But if I cover both my East and West I'll get 70% more than him ... and my guess is that it would cost 70% more, and not double.
I think that folk often think that South is inherently better, whereas East / West provides the opportunity of twice the roof area. Mid day peak is better on South, but 2x as much PV on an East / West roof provides the opportunity to generate 70% more electricity - assuming that the home owner has the ability to use it.
Good point made about shading of East / West side in Winter - the sun is so blinking low on a winter's morning / evening that anything in the way is going to cast a shadow. I'm fortunate to have nothing to the East of me...
... although PC generates so little in Mid Winter (only 10% of Mid Summer) so one could take the view that even a roof which is shaded (only) in Winter is not much loss so long as it will generate well in Summer.