The easy answer is YES! You can put solar pool heating panels and solar electric panels on the same roof. The real question is do you have enough space, and what is the best orientation?
Our general recommendation is to save your best roof for solar electric panels. Because they are more expensive and reliant on a good orientation for performance, selecting a nice south roof is ideal. Solar pool heating panels can then be added to other roofs (SW, SE, W, or E) based on space available. Increasing the size of the solar pool heating system to account for the sub-optimal orientation can help.
In this system design below, we opted to maximize the south roof with solar electricity. Then we used the large east roof to place an over-sized solar pool heating system, and then used the remaining east roof space for more solar electric panels. We could have selected the south roof for a smaller solar pool heating system, with equal performance due to the orientation, but the goal here was to provide the best return on investment for the solar electric panels, and then still find space for a solar pool heater.
Are there any advantages to already having pool heating panels in place when deciding to add photovoltaic? As in systems costs?
No, there are no advantages. Solar pool heating panels are strictly passive thermal heating devices where the pool water passes through. They are completely independent from solar photovoltaic systems.
If you could only choose one would you recommend Solar PV or Solar Water panels?
That’s hard to answer without better understanding your goals. A consultation brings out the answer to this question. If you have an existing electric heater, you might consider PV to reduce your overall home electrical consumption, but if your primary goal is just to enjoy your pool more at a low initial cost, solar pool heating may be a better option.
I was wondering about this. I’m thinking of putting solar pool panels on the west side of my house, but the roof is pretty small. The south is big but I want to put solar electric panels there in the future. This answers my question and I think I will put some pool panels on the west and a couple on the south. thanks!
As for safety concerns mixing water and electricity – there are none. Solar electric panels and associated electronics and wiring are sealed and made to withstand harsh elements on the roof. There is no danger in mixing these types of solar panels on a roof.