The term “solar panel setback from roof edge” refers to the minimum distance that solar arrays must maintain from the roof edge, parapet, or a designated emergency or maintenance zone. Setbacks affect maintenance access, fire safety, wind loads, shading, and roof longevity. . If the installation is to be installed on the ground or on a flat roof, it is extremely important to arrange the next rows of the installation in such a way that the shadow of the previous row does not obscure the next one. 12 in the 2018 Edition of NFPA 1, Fire Code covers everything related to PV installations from marking to rapid shutdown to accessways. There are a number of things to consider when installing a PV. . The layout of solar panels on a roof must balance safety, code compliance, and system performance. Proper panel spacing not only enhances energy efficiency but also extends the system's lifespan.
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Knowing the minimum angle of incidence of sunlight during the year, it is possible to determine the distance between successive rows of photovoltaic panels. 25 ° was taken as the value of the inclination of the supporting structure and the panel itself. Recommended values are in the range of 25 – 40 °. The height of the selected panel is 165 cm.
An extremely important issue in the situation of reducing the distance is the optimal connection of photovoltaic panels connected in chains in such a way that the possibly shaded rows of panels are strings controlled separately by the MPPT systems of the inverter.
Therefore, the angle can be calculated from the formula: Knowing the minimum angle of incidence of sunlight during the year, it is possible to determine the distance between successive rows of photovoltaic panels. The figure below shows the schematic diagram used to calculate the row spacing and the formula for the calculation: