First of all, you need to create a trust between each other. If the partner will not trust you, you will never be able to convince him on the changes. Once the trust is existent, prepare various simulations of the yield generation. Then you have facts in your hands. This sort of conflict is normally easy to solve, as it is an evidence-based topic. To wrap it up - if having a trustful, open relationship, your customer will surely take an advantage of your suggestions.

I don't understand what this means. Solar is more efficient than a naked roof in every scenario. A well educated human would be unlikely to choose this option, however. A very well educated human would never choose solar without storage. The best educated human would choose a hybrid inverter, DC-coupled LFP batteries, a smart load shedding device, and they'd fill up every roof plane with solar if they had any idea what kind of mess we've gotten ourselves into energywise with: EV's, Electrification of everything, manufacturing returning to the U.S., BTC mining, and especially AI data centers, bc they'd be thrilled to have personal/community energy resiliency after a storm, and feel honored to do their part to Guard the Grid.

I have seen the aftereffects of this scenario too many times to count. Regardless of the customer's motivation, the installer must manage customer expectations of the system, including production estimates and system behavior, particularly if a battery is involved. The customer will use every watt/hour you give them and a properly sized PV system will facilitate battery charging, particularly during a grid outage. If this is a PV-only install, then point out the reduced production values, which correlate to slightly higher utility bills. Keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best! Get the stringing deviation in writing into the contract and have the customer sign it like each line item when renting a car.

I'd acknowledge the client's preferences while explaining the long-term benefits of an efficient layout, such as cost savings and energy production. Then, I'd offer a compromise by proposing a layout that balances their desires with improved performance. Clear communication and education can help find common ground.

We can use software like PVsyst or others for simulations, allows us to provide data-driven insights into the energy performance of different solar panel layouts. Here’s how you can enhance your strategy: 1. Simulate with PVsyst by running a simulation to compare the client’s preferred layout with a more efficient design. Show the energy yield difference, as well as potential losses in the long run. 2. Present a clear financial analysis based on the simulation results. Calculate the ROI, comparing the initial costs, long-term savings, and maintenance expenses for both layouts. 3. Walk through the PVsyst results and financial projections, addressing their concerns while showing how the optimized layout aligns with their goals.