Best Angle And Orientation For Solar Panels

Some who install them on their roofs are somewhat limited but if you have the luxury of choosing exactly how you want your system setup there are a few tricks you can use.

Best angle and orientation for solar panels.

While the sun is in a higher position in the sky during the summer and lower position during the winter it has an average position right in between the two seasons. At different times of the year the optimal angle may be slightly or even significantly different. To get the best out of your photovoltaic panels you need to angle them towards the sun. On the contrary in the countries of the southern hemisphere such as south africa and australia the best orientation is true north.

The optimum angle varies throughout the year depending on the seasons and your location and this calculator shows the difference in sun height on a month by month basis. However if you live in an urban area in the united states you might just be able to find the best angle for the photovoltaic panels with your zip code. The ideal situation is when the sun is hitting the panels at a perfectly perpendicular angle 90. The angle and orientation of your roof is a significant factor when considering installing solar panels.

Solar panels should always face true south in the northern hemisphere north in the southern hemisphere tilted from the hoizontal at a degree equal to your latitude plus 15 degrees in winter or minus 15 degrees in summer. In this case for the solar panels to get their best performance a steep angle of 60 is best. The two factors that such an angle is controlled by are the orientation north south east west and the angle of the panels from the surface of the earth. For starters there is no single ideal angle for solar panels.

An additional 3 5 though can be gained by evaluating this more carefully. During the winter in the northern hemisphere for example the sun is low in relation to the horizon. Usually this is the best direction because solar panels will receive direct light throughout the day. Therefore the best angle for your solar panels is the one that allows the panels to get the most direct perpendicular light.

In the northern hemisphere the general rule for solar panel placement is solar panels should face true south and in the southern true north. Since solar panels are more productive when the sun s rays are perpendicular to their surfaces the certainly best orientation is the one directly true south azimuth angle 180. This maximizes the amount of energy striking the panels and being produced. For example a solar panel placed flat onto a west facing wall will produce about half the amount of electricity compared to being placed at a 30 degree angle on a south facing roof.