When it comes to renewable energy sources that are both efficient and economically feasible, solar energy is the best option for both residential and commercial applications. For residential applications, the majority of people go for rooftop solar, which are solar panels installed on the roof for optimum utilization of space. For premises where space is not an issue, solar panels can also be set up on the ground, in a farm-like configuration that maximises space and allows for placement of increased number of solar panels. But which one is better for your energy needs? Is it rooftop solar or a solar farm? Let’s check out the answer.

We will also check out the best solar company in Dubai, Beacon Energy, and how they have the best solar energy equipment for both residential and commercial applications.

Solar Farm vs Rooftop Solar: Which is best?

As explained beforehand, solar farms are large-scale installations that utilize a greater real estate to generate energy per scale, which means that solar farms are best for a group of consumers or industrial/ commercial installations which may require more energy. Since they take up a lot more space than rooftop solar, this limits their use to large sites, which are usually only available for commercial applications.

The Benefits of Rooftop Solar

There are many benefits of rooftop solar, which will be discussed in detail below.

i. Installation time, cost:

Rooftop solar isn’t as extensive as a solar farm, which means that less equipment needs to be set up to run the system. This means that not only are the installation costs driven down, but also the installation time, which can really go down, allowing you to start using your system a lot quicker.

ii. Utilises space efficiently:

Unlike solar farms, rooftop solar is best for tight, urban spaces where real estate can be an issue. At places like these, solar energy is far more efficient and useful, and even with the limited space available, it can still generate a considerable amount of energy.

iii. Less maintenance:

Rooftop solar is famed for requiring very minimal upkeep and maintenance. That is because the solar panels are few in number, and all they require in terms of maintenance is an occasional wipe down. Since they are installed on households, extensive maintenance work can be troublesome and unfeasible for many households.

The Benefits of Solar Farms

Now, we will discuss the benefits of rooftop solar, and try to understand how rooftop solar makes a difference in generating energy on a larger scale.

i. Energy generation:

In terms of energy generation, solar farms are far more impressive than rooftop solar. Since they are spread out on a larger surface area, use more equipment including solar panels, solar inverters and batteries, the generation potential is likewise higher. However, this means that solar farms are not applicable for residential solutions, since neither the energy requirement nor the space requirement is feasible for typical residential settings.

ii. Drives down cost:

In larger installations, both the cost of the equipment including panels, batteries and inverters as well as the installation can be driven down. This is because of the large scale; equipment in large numbers and installation at such a large scale is more financially feasible than the same being applied for typical residential solar solutions, which are not as large in scale.

iii. Makes use of remote, barren lands:

Across the world there are many patches of land which are barren, remote and not of much use for humanity as a whole. Since these remote areas also host people who have no ready access to the grid and electricity, this land can be utilised in the form of solar farms to provide access to sustainable energy for the inhabitants of the area.

So, which one is better?

Rooftop solar takes up a lot of space, but then provides ample power to run a premises. You may even be able to go fully off the grid with a sufficiently-sized system, but again: the real estate limitations can be problematic. On the other hand, rooftop solar takes up less space and is easy to install, run and maintain, but the generation potential is likewise low. Which means, the better one will be the system which conforms to your requirements. If you reside in the suburbs with less space to spare, a rooftop solar energy system will be fine. However, if you live somewhere where there is a lot of space, solar farms can be a better way of powering the premises. Its all about finding the balance.

The Best Solar Energy Company in UAE: Beacon Energy

From the best solar panels manufactured by CanadianSolar to efficient solar inverters from SOFAR Solar, Beacon Energy, the best solar company in Dubai, has it all. Get a complete range of solar energy equipment from the best manufacturers in the world with amazing prices and quick deliveries to fast-track your transition to solar.