Solar sheds explained: Do they make sense?

Many homeowners use their sheds for storage, greenhouses, or as a workspace, but have you ever considered your shed a potential spot for a solar panel installation?

Here are some questions to get you started if you're looking into a solar shed.

One question you need to ask yourself is whether the roof of your shed is suitable for solar panels. Adding solar panels to your roof has a similar weight addition to installing another layer of shingles on a standard asphalt roof. With traditional rooftop systems, installers will typically conduct an engineering review to ensure that your roof is structurally sound enough to withstand the additional weight of solar equipment. Depending on how your shed was built and what it was built with, its roof may not be strong enough to hold up solar panels.

In addition to structural integrity, space is another aspect to remember when considering solar for your shed. Most sheds are small and don't have a lot of available roof space. Standard residential solar panels are roughly 15 square feet; if you have a small shed, you can only fit a few panels.

Of course, the amount of sunshine hitting your shed is also crucial. What direction does your shed roof face?? A sunny, southern-facing roof is optimal for solar electricity production, but east or west-facing roofs can also work. No matter your shed's roof's direction, you want to ensure it's clear of shade. If your shed is at the edge of your property and obscured by tree branches or shaded by tall buildings, you may want to install your solar panels in another location.

Most homeowners aim to self-generate as much of their home's energy needs as they can once they go solar. The goal is lower electric bills and more savings over time. This can be difficult if you're only installing panels on a shed.

If your shed is large enough, you could look into covering it in enough solar panels to eliminate the electricity bill for your property. This will require running wiring from your shed to your main house if your electric meter is in your home.

Another option is only to install solar to provide electricity to the shed itself. This solution could be beneficial if your shed functions as a workshop that uses lighting or other appliances. Installing panels to cover the electricity usage of your shed will have a lower upfront cost than a typical residential installation because it will require fewer solar panels.

If you're considering installing solar for your shed, you can purchase a solar kit (such as those from Grape Solar) to install it yourself. There are some cases where DIY solar makes sense. If you're only installing a few panels and are comfortable with electrical work, a DIY solar project on your shed will be a cost-competitive option.

It's worth noting that using a solar kit for a DIY solar project is most feasible if you're installing a small, off-grid solar panel system. A solar kit can be a practical option if your shed isn't tied to the electric grid and you only want to provide power for a few electrical appliances. There are DIY solar kits for grid-tied systems, but these are more complicated because they require an interconnection process with your utility company.

Even though DIY systems have a lower overall cost, there are clear advantages to using a solar professional to install your system, even if you're an experienced electrician. The most significant benefit of using a solar contractor is saving you time. You won't need to spend hours researching DIY solar and the steps necessary to install your system. Hired solar installers will also help file permits and applications required in your state or town to get the system up and running. Professional installers will have the benefit of experience when it comes to these processes.

If you're looking to go solar and don't have an existing shed on your property, there are a few circumstances in which you might consider buying one to install solar. For one, if your primary roof isn't a good fit for solar panels and you're looking at solar alternatives, a solar shed may be a good solution for your property.

If you're starting from the ground up for a solar shed option, you can tailor the construction and placement of your shed to make it as suitable for solar as possible. Try to work with a builder to ensure there's enough roof space to fit however many panels you need and that the shed is positioned on your property for optimal solar electricity production.

Remember that a solar shed isn't your only option if you can't install solar panels on your roof. Look at alternatives to traditional rooftop solar, such as ground mounts, carports, or solar gazebos.

If you don't already have a shed on your property, you may be looking into purchasing one with solar panels already built in.

Many home improvement stores sell whole sheds with solar collectors included. Unfortunately, it's more common for these types of sheds to have passive solar thermal collectors (similar to skylights) rather than solar electricity panels.

That's not to say these sheds aren't a good purchase. Even though they won't help save you money on your electricity bill, they're attractive and useful if your shed doubles as a greenhouse.

Installing solar panels on your shed is worth looking into if you only want to provide electricity for your shed or are constructing a new shed that you can build to be solar-ready. If your main goal is to generate the maximum savings with solar, you will want to install a more extensive system to cover your electricity needs. This may not be possible with a small, existing shed because of the available roof space, but you can always look into traditional rooftop installations, ground mounts, or carport options. Even if your shed can't hold enough panels to power your entire property, it can still be an excellent choice to decrease your overall electricity usage or supplement an existing solar array on your home's roof.

You can get competing quotes for solar sheds and other types of installations by joining the EnergySage Solar Marketplace. If you want to install solar on your shed, note it in your account so our installer network knows your preferences. Remember that solar panel installations on sheds are typically smaller, so finding an installer to work on the project may be more challenging.