Let’s Be Real—Washington Is Shady
Washington isn’t Arizona. It’s green, it’s lush—and yeah, it’s shady. Tall evergreens, chimneys, multi-story neighbors, all throwing shade (literally). But that doesn’t mean solar energy doesn’t work here. It just means you need the right team designing your system.
At NWES, we don’t sell sunshine dreams. We deliver energy independence grounded in data, transparency, and design precision.
The Truth About Shade Loss
Shade impacts performance. Period. Even 10–20% shade can knock out a disproportionate amount of your solar production—unless your system is built to account for it from the start.
That’s where we come in. At Northwest Electric and Solar (NWES), we don’t sugarcoat the numbers. We map it, model it, and give you a system designed to thrive—with the shade, not despite it.
Our Shade-Busting Solar Design Process
We don’t just sell solar—we build trust. And that starts by being honest about what your home can realistically produce.
On-Site Shade Assessment
Our certified designers and site assessors use precise online modeling software that uses LiDAR and imaging to accurately design your home and any shade causing obstructions like trees and rooftop structures. This gives us a precise picture of how much sunlight your roof receives—and where and when shadows hit. It’s the first step in delivering a system that performs.
3D Modeling & Irradiance Mapping
We use advanced solar design software like Aurora Solar to build a 3D digital model of your roof and surrounding environment. Every tree, vent pipe, chimney, and ridge is factored into the shading analysis. This lets us simulate solar production hour-by-hour, season-by-season, so you get a production estimate that reflects real-world conditions—not wishful thinking.
Honest Output Expectations
We don’t pitch best-case scenarios or hide behind inflated projections. We give you conservative, bankable numbers that you can trust—ones that align with what your utility, lender, and reality expect.
If your system is forecasted to produce 7,200 kWh, we won’t tell you 10,000 just to close a deal. And if your site’s Total Solar Resource Fraction (TSRF)—a key industry metric for solar viability—is below 65%, we’ll be honest: your home may not be eligible for solar. We’d rather lose a sale than sell you a system that underdelivers.
Smart Tech, Smarter Design
When some shading is inevitable, we don’t back down—we get strategic. NWES leverages smart technologies and design principles to get the most from your system:
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Panel optimizers or microinverters: These allow each panel to operate independently, so a little shade on one doesn’t drag down your whole system.
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East/West-facing arrays: When south-facing roofs aren’t available or optimal, this orientation spreads production throughout the day and avoids heavy afternoon shading.
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Battery storage: Capture your excess solar power during the day and use it when you need it most, especially during peak rates or outages.
Trees Aren’t a Dealbreaker
Have shade? Great. We’ve seen worse. Maybe we trim a branch or move your array to a better spot. Maybe we oversize to compensate. And if solar truly won’t deliver for your home?
We’ll tell you—because your trust matters more than a sale.
Why Homeowners Trust NWES
A national installer might give you a pretty PDF and sunny promises.
We give you a tailored design, clear expectations, and real-world performance—all backed by five-star service.
With NWES, you get:
- Custom solar designs for your actual site conditions
- Transparent performance projections
- Local experts who live, work, and install in your community
