Best Orientation For Solar Panels

For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south.

Best orientation for solar panels.

Solar panel orientation and elevation. So we ve established that there s a sweet spot for your solar panel orientation which is directly south and a sweet spot for elevation which is between 30º and 40º. To get the most from solar panels you need to point them in the direction that captures the most sun. But no matter what direction your roof faces you will still see a significant impact from solar power.

This page is designed to help you find the best placement for your solar panels in your situation. If even one panel is shaded it will reduce the output of all your panels unless you invest in micro inverters or other optimizing devices. Now all of this is very important for utilities and legislators who are in charge of offering incentives for solar power or other measures that could reduce electricity demand at the height of the day. Solar panels will save you money and energy year round in any weather rain or shine.

If you ignore the possibility of a solar tracker in the past it was considered a solar panel orientation on an aspect angled toward the equator was the best location for a solar energy system. The premise behind this is simple. But there are a number of variables in figuring out the best direction. The sun is in a different place in the sky and solar panels should face it as squarely as is reasonably possible throughout the day.

South facing panels produced a 54 percent peak reduction overall while west facing solar pv panels produced a 65 percent peak reduction. For example in brisbane if your panels are facing west 270 and are angled 20 from horizontal you will get 89 of the energy compared to the optimum orentation of north and 30. While the angle of your solar panels is important a more important factor in your energy production is going to be the direction your panels face. In general solar panels that are oriented directly east or directly west will produce about 20 percent less electricity than if they were facing south.

This table shows you how much energy you can expect to get from almost any combination of solar panel direction and angle in the capital cities compared to the optimum orientation. More optimum orientation of solar panels to get the most from solar panels you need to point them in the direction that captures the most sun. South facing solar panels provide you with maximum energy savings for your home. Even with this decrease in performance solar panels will produce enough electricity to save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Why orientation matters with rooftop solar. But there are a number of variables in figuring out the best direction. This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere. Solar panels are installed differently based on their geographic locations throughout the world.

Still an exceptional orientation if the majority of your energy consumption occurs between 10 am and 2 pm daily.