Details of the overshadowing building

9. Height above panels (a)

This is the height from the bottom edge of the solar panels to the top of the overshadowing building.

The height of a building storey is generally around 3.3 metres, but this varies from just under this figure to well over it.

For situations where the overshadowing house is on much higher ground, select the next highest 'height above panels' option.

10. Horizontal distance from panels (standoff) [see (b) in diagram below]

This is the distance from the bottom edge of the solar panels to the overshadowing building. You may be able to measure this or estimate it by looking at a map or using measuring tools in aerial photography such as Google Maps or Google Earth.

Note that this distance may not correspond directly to a building 'setback' due to the solar panel position on the roof.

11. Left distance from system edge and right distance from system edge

Estimate how far the overshadowing building extends beyond the left and right edges of the solar system. If the solar panels continue beyond the edge of the overshadowing building, this distance should be recorded as negative (see example below, where the solar panels extend 2 metres beyond the edge of the overshadowing building).

Note that the calculator assumes that the overshadowing building is 'box-shaped'.