The notebook
Field guides on sun, shade and siting.
Plain-spoken, well-researched guides for anyone weighing up solar on a real roof, balcony or garden. Real numbers, named sources, and an honest take, including when a spot is not worth it.
Getting started
Is Your Roof Good for Solar? A 5-Minute Self-Check
A plain checklist for deciding whether your roof is worth panels, using real German numbers and the one factor that map tools always miss.
7 min read · Read the guide →
Shade
How Much Does Shade Actually Cost You? The Real Numbers
Shade does not cost you in proportion to how much of a panel it covers. Here is why a small shadow can switch off a whole module, and what you can do about it.
Orientation
East or West? Choosing Panel Orientation When Part of Your Sky Is Blocked
South is the textbook answer, but east-west splits lose surprisingly little, and directional shade can flip the decision entirely.
Balcony solar
Is a Balcony Solar Panel Worth It? Read the Shade First
A plug-in balcony system is cheap and legal in Germany now, but the shade on your railing decides whether it pays back in three years or never.
Method
What a Shadow Horizon Is, and Why It Decides Your Solar Yield
A shadow horizon is the outline of everything around you that blocks the sun. Learn to read it, and you can predict a roof's solar yield before you spend a cent.