Solar roof plan

The programs presented here will help you to plan your solar roof. You are free to get on the Internet - in addition we have put together two video tutorials that will explain in a nutshell all you need for the effective use of these powerful planning tools. We'll show you how to import the actual data of your own roof (view data, sun times, degree of shading) from the aerial photos from Google Earth can - then adjust the drawing with a few simple steps and create several 3D versions of your photovoltaic system with different solar panels - solar roof to the way you want.
For all further calculations for your solar roof so you have the perfect foundation: What modules do I select to utilize optimally the available roof area? How many kWh of power they make available to me?

At the end you can even create an animated visual analysis of the solar shading roof. A good tool for your planning! And: The whole process takes no longer than half the afternoon.

What you need to plan your solar roof

You should get the free basic version of the software Google SketchUp download here: Download .

You will also need Google Earth, which is also free basic version is available here: Download .
Then the 3D design of the solar roof is nothing in the way.

Overview

Chapter One: The tutorial software Google SketchUp

First

Brief introduction to the basic techniques of Google Sketchup - you can use later in the design of your solar roof in 3D: 1st

Part of the tutorial Solar Roofs plan .

Second

The necessary basics of drawing three-dimensional objects: second

Part of the tutorial: 3D objects .

Third

The adaptation of layers and objects, with which you can later create a custom design of the photovoltaic system and until it suits your solar roof: 3rd

Part of the tutorial: Customizing objects .

4th

Combining the techniques with an example.

Even a more complex design like that of a solar roof will then have no more difficulty: 4th

Part of the tutorial: Example of implementation .

Second step: The tutorial for the practical implementation

First

You can choose from over a Google Earth aerial view of your own roof and transmit data, and geographical coordinates in the 3D program Google SketchUp: 5th

Part of the tutorial Solar Roofs plan: choosing your own roof .

Second

Correct the data drawn to scale, and thus prepare the concrete before drawing your solar roof: 6th

Part of the tutorial: Correct .

Third

They complete the drawing by bodies such as the chimney - important for the later analysis of your solar roof shading: 7th

Part of the tutorial: complete structures .

4th

Choose from ready-made 3D elements for the occupancy of your roof with solar panels different: 8th

Part of the tutorial: Select modules .

5th

You create for your solar roof module variants and can compare them by rapidly switching the representations: 9th

Part of the tutorial: Solar panels vary .

6th

At the end of the tutorial you produce a short animation, you can use to analyze the shading situation of your PV system: 10th

Part of the tutorial: shading analysis .

The whole process takes just over an hour.

For the first section of the tutorial: 3D design with Google SketchUp .

Tutorial planning solar roof: Source Note

The second section of the tutorial is from the "photovoltaic office Ternus & Diehl GmbH 'in Rüsselsheim, which by the way - a more detailed - for those who want to deal more intensively with the background of the matter Blog runs on photovoltaics software.
We thank the computer photovoltaic "PV office" that has made this video for all interested users on Youtube, here we sorted only initiated and completed by the Google tutorial.