Additional Solar Panel Requirements For Roof
Several factors can impact solar panel installation and performance including the type of roof and degree of tilt. A solar energy audit from our expert team will analyze all these factors for you for free.
Best Roofs For Solar Panels
Stronger roof materials like metal make an excellent foundation for solar panels. Composite materials like asphalt shingles can also work.
Installing solar panels on clay tile, concrete or traditional slate roofs can be more challenging. These materials are more brittle and can be easily damaged in the installation process. Repairs can also be more challenging. If you have a specialty roof you may want to consider talking to a qualified Florida roofer to see if solar is a good fit for your home.
Roof Pitch/Tilt
For solar panels to work properly they must be tilted or slanted towards the sun. This makes pitched residential roofs a great foundation for solar panels. Solar panels can be installed on a flat roof however, additional brackets will have to be used to ensure they are tiled the proper amount.
The Best Direction For Solar Panels In Utah
Solar panel prices have dropped significantly over a short period, and installation costs are lower than ever before.
There has never been a better time to install solar panels in Utah due to significant price drops within the industry and reduced installation costs.
The best direction for solar panels in Utah is East or West facing panels on roofs because they get more sunlight throughout the day.
South-facing roofs lose out on some afternoon light while North-facing roofs face too much shade from buildings.
However, suppose there is enough space to install two solar panels facing opposite directions. In that case, you can maximize your energy production by getting half of your power from each set!
The Orientation Of Solar Panels
The best direction for solar panels is determined by the location. Those living in the Northern Hemisphere need to position their solar panels south, whereas solar installations in the Southern Hemisphere should be installed north. This is because of the suns southern offset in the Northern Hemisphere and a northern offset in the southern one.
As an example, let us take a roof in the Northern Hemisphere. While the south side will get the most of the sun, the north side of the building will be mostly in shade. During the morning hours, the west is shaded, and the east gets the sun. In the evening, we get a vice versa scenario: the east is shaded and the west is under the sun. Therefore, for a solar system in the Northern Hemisphere, the best orientation is the south. But, if you have limited space on your roof and cant put your solar panels in the greatest location, its preferable to put them as close to the south as possible.
If you position solar panels only east or west, they will anyway generate a good amount of energy but only during the mornings or evenings. In total, they will generate around 20% less energy than for example, a south-facing roof. However, adding up a few additional panels to the east and west will give you a good amount of free electricity from early morning right through to late evening.
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Do You Have To Have A South Facing Roof To Have Solar Panels
In the UK, South facing panels will generate more than other orientations. Solar panels perform at their best when the sun is shining straight on to the panels. When the sun shines onto the surface at an angle, the panel will still generate electricity but it will be less effective. The sun moves from East to West during the day and is higher or lower in the sky depending on the season . This means that for most roof mounted systems the sun will be at an angle for the vast majority of the time. The optimum placement to maximise generation is to face the panels South but that might not be possible for your property.
We ran a few calculations and found that SE and SW facing placements can expect to generate around 94% of the electricity a South facing install would. Thats much better than most people would guess and even an East / West facing roof can generate around 80% of the maximum. We assumed a 40° elevation for the roof. At lower pitches, say 30°, the East / West facing panels perform slightly closer to South. At higher pitches, the difference increases.
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Finding The Best Angle
Mathematics comes into play when you need to find the angle of your solar panels. Before you can do the math, however, you will need to know your latitude. Using Google Maps or any of the many tools online, you can easily find your latitude. Once you have figured this out, you can use one of the formulas below to calculate the best angle for your solar panels for each season.
- Spring / Fall: latitude 2.5 degrees
- Summer: 23.5 degrees
- Winter: 29 degrees
The answers you end up with are the best angles for each particular season.
As you can see, configuring the direction and angle for solar panels is not too complicated it only takes a few minutes. One last point to consider is that each persons conditions are different, and you may have to make minor adjustments to your setup. For example, if trees or other object block the sun from shining on your panels, you may have to change your approach to achieve the best results. For this reason, its a good idea to map out the best area to place your panels before you even begin the installation process. The more prepared you are, the happier you will be with the power you gain from earths free energy source.
I have a 27 degree angle roof that is facing north-east.what will the expected loss in efficiency be comparedto a similar north facing roof be for the solar panels.
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Confused About Solar Panels
You dont have to decide on your own. There are professionals out there that are solar pros who can help you navigate the many different options available to you.
Even if you dont have rates where you live right now, they might be coming soon.
Places can help you size and position your panels, as well as advise on how to save with tax breaks or incentives when you go solar!
How To Optimize Solar Panel Direction For Self
You should pay attention to what time of day your power consumption increases. If you use a lot of electricity in the morning, orienting the solar system to the east may be helpful. If you consume most of your energy in the evening, then the west direction would be a better option.
- Solar modules that face east achieve the greatest efficiency in the morning.
- Solar modules that face west achieve the greatest efficiency in the evening.
- Solar panels that face south achieve the greatest efficiency at midday and produce energy throughout the day.
It is generally beneficial if two roof areas can be used at the same time. Orienting your panels both to the east and west provides consistent power generation throughout the day. Instead of maximum effectivity at midday, there are two smaller maximums in the morning and in the afternoon. This makes it easier to increase the self-consumption share of the self-generated solar power.
For residential purposes we recommend installing panels on both, east and west. In total, they will generate around 20% less energy than a south-facing roof, but you will rely less on the power grid.
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Other Directions For Solar Panels
Solar panels in Ireland will produce some electricity no matter what direction they face. However, North-facing solar panels produce substantially less power than South-facing solar panels. North-East and North-West are also fairly poor choices of orientation. On the other hand, South-West and South-East facing solar panels will produce almost as much power as South-facing panels.
South Is Best For Homes With Net Metering
If youre in a location where full retail net metering is available, the best direction for your solar panels is south.
Thats because if 1:1 net metering is available, your priority should be to most efficiently achieve your desired level of solar output, with no regard to when that power is produced.
Let me explain. Solar panels facing south produce the most power overall, but they also produce most of it during midday. Midday is when your consumption is typically at its lowest, so there will be lots of surplus power produced. With net metering, surplus power is actually a good thing: you can export that electricity to the grid in return for bill credits equal to the full retail value.
In other words, if youre in a location with 1:1 net metering, it wont matter when youre producing solar power. Instead, youll want a solar power setup that produces 100% of your electricity usage at the minimum possible cost this can be achieved by orienting your solar panels south.
Learn more: What is net metering and how does it work?
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Tilt Angle Vs Azimuth Angle
When it comes to positioning solar panels, there are two angles to consider:
- Tilt Angle – This describes the vertical angle of the solar panels, and is also known as Elevation Angle. The lower the angle, the more up towards the sky they face.
- Azimuth Angle – This describes the horizontal angle that solar panels face in relation to the Equator.
We mentioned that solar panels in the northern hemisphere should face south, so you might think that calculating the azimuth angle is easy – just point them south! However, its important to know that solar panels need to be angled towards true south, not the reading on a compass, which is magnetic south. Depending on where in the United States you live, that could mean your ideal azimuth angle is a difference of as much as 20° from magnetic south.
The Best Direction For Solar Panels For Homes
The first and most important consideration for solar panels is the direction of your roof. The south side will provide more sun exposure than any other location on the property, so its best to place your panels there if possible.
In addition, this position provides all-day sunlight throughout the year and maximum energy production from sunrise until sunset.
People residing in temperate climates with four different seasons, the winter months will see less sun exposure due to fewer hours of daylight and cloudier days.
Homeowners even can save the highest electricity bills and get the fastest payback time by keeping their solar panels direction in the south over any other direction!
Having your photovoltaic array pointed in this optimal placement ensures that you are maximizing its power output while also taking advantage of net metering policies when available, as well as battery storage solutions down the line!
The Northern Hemisphere, where the United States is located in a southern region, will maximize solar panel electricity production.
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Take The Time To Talk To A Professional Solar Sales And Installation Company About The Best Direction For Your Solar Panel System
Going Solar doesnt have to be a hard decision. At Sunsolar Solutions we are here to help. The very foundation of our company is built on customer education, honesty, integrity, and transparency, with a high emphasis on ensuring homeowners understand the varying aspects of their solar project. From start to finish, youll always be informed every step of the way.
Give us a call today at 602-773-6675 of for a free quote, click the link Below
Do Solar Panels Need To Face South
Ideally, solar panels should face south for optimal sunlight and electricity production. According to the US Energy Information, the simplest way to maximize total annual system output of a fixed-tilt system is to tilt the panels south. The rationale is pretty simple. In the northern hemisphere, South is the direction of the Earths axis. When you consider the best direction for solar panels to face to be true south, they have more access to direct sunlight throughout the year. When facing south, the optimum tilt for solar panels is between 30 and 45 degrees. But thats not the only reason solar panels should face south. Here are the others.
Which direction should solar panels face for net metering?
Net metering is a program available through most utility companies. It enables homeowners to sell back their unused solar energy to receive credits on their electricity bill. South-facing solar panels generate the most electricity overall, but especially when they produce during the middle of the day. In fact, the Global Monitoring Laboratory has actually created a solar calculator that will tell you when your house will receive the most sunlight.
Which direction should solar panels face with a solar battery?
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South Is Best Direction To Maximize Solar Panel Output
In the Northern Hemisphere, where the United States is located, solar panels will achieve maximum possible electricity production when they are facing south.
Thats because, on average, the sun shines directly over the Equator over the year. If youre north of the Equator, facing south towards it will maximize exposure to sunlight. In fact, in all regions north of the Tropic of Cancer – which includes the entire mainland U.S. – the Sun moves across the southern half of the sky all year round.
In other words, solar panels oriented south in the United States will face the sun all year long.
Pictured: The furthest north the suns path travels is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, roughly 23.5° north of the Equator, during the summer solstice . As all of the mainland U.S. is located north of the Tropic of Cancer, the sun shines to the south for us all year-round.
How much power will panels produce on your roof given its direction?
Let Sunworks Usa Design Your Solar Project
Our team can help with all aspects of your solar project, including system design. This stage of the process involves evaluating your home and the amount of energy you want to offset. As a result, Sunworks USA can provide a system that meets or exceeds performance expectations. To learn more, call or submit your request online for a free solar quote.
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What About Solar Trackers
The suns position is constantly moving throughout the year, and the only way to always have your solar panels angled perfectly is to install a solar tracking system. Solar trackers follow the sun as it moves slightly, which will bump up your energy production. If you are considering a ground-mounted solar system a solar tracking setup may be what you need to optimize your installation.
For the majority of solar shoppers, a rooftop system is the lowest cost and doesnt take up space on the ground. Solar trackers cant easily be installed on a rooftop solar system, so theyre generally only used in commercial solar projects they can dramatically increase production because the tracking system acts as a solar panel angle calculator.
Should Solar Panels Face South Or West
If your solar panel location faces south youâre in the sweet zone. True South is evident by the shadows cast at noon, running north to south. Most professional solar installers position the panels facing south because it receives the maximum duration of sunlight during the day. This is tempered, however, by your proximity to the equator and elevation to sea-level. Contrary to the south-facing rule, researchers at the Pecan Stree Research Institute in Austin, Texas suggest that solar panels should face west. Their studies show that west-facing solar panels generate two percent more power in the day during peak grid usage.
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What Angle Should Solar Panels Be At
There is virtually no debate regarding the most effective direction of solar panels but in terms of the correct angle for the effectiveness of panels, there is far less in the way of a one-size-fits-all solution.
If you were living directly on the equator this would be simple, as a horizontal panel at 90 degrees would have the sun directly above at all times. However, with your solar panel in the UK, the sun is at a different angle relative to the Earth and this changes throughout the year. Ultimately, this means choosing an angle that is going to give you the best possible benefit.
In fact, this will depend on the specific of your home and the angle of your roof. It is best to have your panel pointing directly at the sun in the middle of the day during the summer, so your panel should be set up to achieve this. However, you should be aware that in doing so you will make your panels slightly less effective during winter.
What Is The Right Angle For Home Solar Panels
As a rule of thumb, the optimal solar panel angle is the latitude of where your home is located. For example, Miami, Florida is at 25.7617° N so solar panels on homes there should be installed at around a 25° angle. In comparison, Portland, Oregon is at 45.5152° N so panels there should be angled to around 45°.
Determining the optimal tilt angle is not something most people should do on their own, especially if you have no expertise in the area. Since the sun changes its position throughout the day, and rooftop solar panels are not designed to be moved once installed, that makes the process of determining the right solar panel tilt angle a little tricky. In most cases, the calculations should be left to professional solar panel designers and installers.
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