Ashland Oregon

Do Trees Limit Your Ability to Go Solar?

Can you add solar to your home or business even if you are surrounded by trees? The answer depends on a variety of factors, including the current height and expected growth of the trees, proximity to the site, and more.

You need to know how much a tree’s shade is going to influence the output of a solar electric system. Sometimes trimming a tree back or removing it altogether is the solution. Other times the shade is so thick a solar electric system just wouldn’t make sense without taking down the whole forest.

We love trees. They provide shade, convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, and can be used to build so many things. But what if you have a tree or two that’s shading a particular spot where you’d like to put solar panels? That can be an issue. We try to address this with more follow-up questions like the following.

How Important is the tree to You?

If the tree is providing shade and is located on the south side of your home or business, it may be best left alone. If the tree is not higher than the roof and is not expected to grow that high, it should be fine. If the tree is taller and your gutter line, or is expected to grow higher than that, you should speak with a certified arborist.

A professional tree assessment is the best way to gain a full understanding of the trees that are on your property. They may say that a particular tree is diseased and should be removed anyway. They may have options for you if you’d like to remove a tall tree and replace it with one that will not extend above the gutter level.

Is the Tree on Your Property?

If the tree is on your property, it’s generally up to you in terms of how you handle it, but make sure you check with your city first to make sure it’s not protected as a heritage tree. If the tree is not on your property, you are limited to what you can work out with your neighbor.

Is there another place on your property with good sun exposure?

Homeowners, especially those on rural properties, often have alternatives to mounting solar panels on their main structure. Barns, outbuildings, and sheds can work, but the building will need to have adequate structural integrity.

We also offer ground-mount solutions. While more expensive initially, ground-mounted systems often have the benefit of offering substantially more power production than any other option at your home. The added benefit is that you can benefit from the shade offered by trees located on the south side of your home.

A ground-mount solar power system installed by True South Solar.
A ground-mount solar power system that was built and installed by True South Solar.

Let us provide a free assessment for you

With so many factors, it’s best for one of our Solar Advisors to perform a site assessment to answer your question. We have special software and shade analysis tools to help us understand what’s possible. Once we have more information, it may be a matter of adding more solar panels on your roof to compensate for shade, or it may be that solar just won’t work for you right now.

At True South, we take great pride in offering our clients an honest assessment. Give us a call or fill out a quick online form today and we’ll help you learn what’s possible at your home or business.