Path-Q Solar

How can I tell whether an installer has properly accounted for shade in the system design?

Answer

Request a site-specific shade analysis that identifies obstructions, shading by time and season, panel-level or string-level effects, and the production assumptions used in the proposal. A credible design should show how the layout, equipment, and expected output respond to those findings rather than simply applying a generic loss percentage.

Key points

  • Ask for an annotated roof or site layout showing trees, buildings, vents, and other obstructions.
  • Request hourly or seasonal modeling assumptions and annual production with shading included.
  • Check how shading on each proposed module changes during the day and across seasons.
  • Ask why optimizers, microinverters, trimming, or tree removal are proposed or rejected.

What it depends on

  • Obstruction height, location, and growth
  • Roof orientation, tilt, and layout
  • Modeling method and weather data
  • Module and inverter architecture

Risks and trade-offs

  • Tree removal or trimming may have cost, safety, privacy, and ecological consequences.
  • Mitigation equipment may reduce mismatch effects but does not eliminate lost sunlight.
  • A modeled estimate remains uncertain if future shade or site measurements are inaccurate.

Information you may need

  • Shade report or loss map
  • Panel layout
  • Production model assumptions
  • Tree and obstruction information

Your next step

What to do next

Request the complete shade analysis and have another installer or qualified reviewer compare the assumptions and layout.

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