Best Angle And Orientation For Solar Panels

Choosing the best angle and direction for your solar panels will optimize the amount of sunlight they receive and allow you to get the most out of your solar power system.

Best angle and orientation for solar panels.

The ideal situation is when the sun is hitting the panels at a perfectly perpendicular angle 90. 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. To get the best out of your photovoltaic panels you need to angle them towards the sun. 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. On the contrary in the countries of the southern hemisphere such as south africa and australia the best orientation is true north. An additional 3 5 though can be gained by evaluating this more carefully. During the spring the best angle is 45 and during the summer when the sun is high in the sky it s best to have a low tilt at 20.

This maximizes the amount of energy striking the panels and being produced. 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. However there is a difference between magnetic south and true south that must be considered. During the winter in the northern hemisphere for example the sun is low in relation to the horizon.

The angle and orientation of your roof is a significant factor when considering installing solar panels. For starters there is no single ideal angle for solar panels. At different times of the year the optimal angle may be slightly or even significantly different. 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.

Therefore the best angle for your solar panels is the one that allows the panels to get the most direct perpendicular light. 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. 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. 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.