Solar Panel Direction And Angle

Optimum Angle For Solar Panels

The ideal angle for solar panels in Australia is usually equal to the latitude angle of the location of the property. This means that for best results, the roof pitch of your property should ideally be equal to the latitude angle, with the panels mounted at the same angle as the roof. For example, if you reside in Sydney, a roof pitch of 34° would be considered ideal, as this is equal to the latitude angle of the NSW capital. The graphic below shows the ideal panel angle for major Australian cities:

Optimal Direction And Angle For Solar Panels

In addition to the sort of solar panels you purchase, their location and orientation are equally crucial. When the sun’s rays hit them perpendicularly, the panels may absorb the most energy. You can ensure that the solar panels create enough power by orienting them in the right direction and tilting them properly so that they receive maximum sunlight for an extended length of time.

Solar tracking devices, which guide solar arrays to follow the sun, enhance energy production dramatically in select circumstances. In this essay, we’ll go over some key points about solar panel direction, tilt angle, and other related things. We hope that after reading it, you will be able to reorganize your solar power system.

In which direction should my solar panels be aimed?

The orientation of your solar panels is fully determined by your geographic location, i.e. whether you live in the northern or southern hemisphere. When it comes to installing solar panels in the northern hemisphere, the conventional rule is that they must face true south, while in the southern hemisphere, they must face true north. These directions are perfect because solar panels can only receive direct sunlight in this direction throughout the day.

To avoid any confusion, you must understand the distinction between magnetic and true south. The compass points in the direction of magnetic south, which is the Earth’s south magnetic pole.

Is it possible for solar panels to face east or west?

The Best Direction For A Solar Panel System

To make sure the solar panels are pointing towards the sun for the majority of the day, UK solar panel owners should have their panels facing southwards.

Again, this rule changes from country to country it all depends on which hemisphere theyre located in. So whilst UK solar panels need to face south, panels in Australia need to face north.

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Solar Radiation Data On Horizontal Surfaces

Interestingly, the majority of solar radiation data recorded in Australia is based on a horizontal surface, or if you like, a flat roof. For the purposes of calculating solar power output at a specific location, we start by using solar exposure figures recorded by the Bureau of Meteorology at your location, which are recorded on horizontal surfaces. We then extrapolate the data supplied by the Clean Energy Council on generation loss of panels due to their orientation and tilt then we apply the necessary panel efficiency deratings. All of this data is utilised to provide an accurate measurement of solar power based on the location, roof tilt and orientation that you input into the calculator.

Can Solar Panels Be Fitted If Your Roof Is East West Facing

I get asked this a lot and there isnt really a simple answer. You either accept that your output will be down to the sort of levels in the table above or you spend a little more money and try to maximise the your output with technology.

How? I hear you ask.

Well, lets look at the east west options:

Option 1. You could install all your panels on the east roof and take as much sun as you can in the mornings. They would all then be in the shade during the second half of the day.

Option 2. Put your panels on the west roof and take as much sun as you can in the evenings. They would then be in the shade during the first half of the day.

Option 3. Split your array in two and put half on the east and half on the west, although arguably you would get similar results to the above two options. As half your panels would be in the shade during the first half of the day and the other half would be in the shade during the second half of the day.

Whichever of the above options you go for you’ll have to reduce the effect of shading.

That means spending more money on micro inverters or an optimizing device. These basically micro manage each panel meaning the panels in the shade shouldnt affect the output of the rest of the panels which are in the sun.

The downside is that these devices cost more money although they claim to increase output by around 20%

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How Location Affects Solar Panel Angle

Some states see more sunshine than others, which can affect how well solar panels work. But for the sake of finding optimal solar panel tilt angles, were going to be talking about your locations latitude.

If you do a quick internet search of your address, you can find the latitude of your home. As a general rule of thumb, the best tilt angle of your solar panels will be equal to or close to the latitude of your home.

U.S. states that are at higher altitudes work better with high tilt angles because the sun is higher in the sky. A higher angle is ideal for states like Michigan and Maine.

On the contrary, states with lower latitudes need a low tilt to capture more direct sunlight. So a low tilt is appropriate for homeowners in Florida or Hawaii.

U.S. Energy Information Administration

Tilting your solar panels in line with your homes latitude will ensure the maximum average power output year round, but the exact optimal angle will actually change with the seasons.

Our Solar Panel Angle Calculator By Zip Code

Scroll up to our solar angle calculator by zip code at the top of this page.

In the box, enter your zip code, city or address. For example, if you live in Los Angeles and your zip code is 90011, you’d simply type “90011” into the box.

Then select your location from the dropdown results. In this example, you’d select “90011, Los Angeles, CA, USA”.

The calculator will use your zip code to calculate the best solar panel angle for your location.

Scroll down and you’ll also find your best solar angles by season and by month.

Or, instead of entering your zip code, you can just click “Use Your Current Location”.

Then click “Allow” when the site asks to know your location.

Once again, the calculator will then find your optimal tilt angle based on your location.

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The Direction Of The Solar Panel

Your solar panels should ideally face the South direction as they receive the maximum amount of sunlight in this direction. West and East are also preferred but avoid facing the solar panels in the North direction. The panels receive the minimum amount of sunlight when they face the North direction. It will be a waste of your money and energy.

Adjusting The Tilt Angle For Seasonal Differences

The sun sits higher or lower in the sky depending on the season. It is possible to adjust the system to suit your seasonal output requirements.

It’s generally known that tilt angle is equal to the locations latitude minus 15 degrees in summer and plus 15 degrees in winter to an azimuth angle that is parallel to the equator.

In Concord, NH in Summer you would do 43.208° – 15° = 28.208°

In Concord, NH in Winter you would do 43.208° + 15° = 58.208°

Note: Most fixed-tilt solar PV systems feature a tilt angle between 20-30°.

For instance, if your energy demands increase during winter due to increased electrical heating, adjust the tilt of the panels +15°

If you rely heavily on expensive air-conditioning throughout the summer, a -15° adjustment increases power generation.

If you’re conscientious and aim to get the maximum financial benefit from your solar array, adjust the tilt of each panel at the change of every season.

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Solar Panel Direction: Best Direction For My Panels

The most optimum direction to face your solar panels is somewhere between south and west. It is at this location that your panels will receive the maximum sunlight throughout the day. If your roof does not face the right direction, then surface mounted panels or pole mounted panels may be your best bet. Alternatively you could adjust the angle of inclination of the panels to a certain degree to offset the effect of direction. For example if your roof is facing 10 degrees west towards north, you could reduce the tilt angle of your panels by 3 degrees. This would produce the same electricity as with a panel which is facing true west. Article by Katherine Tweed, November 14, 2013 from Green Tech Media http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/are-solar-panels-facing-the-wrong-direction.

Does It Ever Make Sense To Have Panels East/west Facing Rather Than South

In the case of self-consumption for the PV production, it can make sense to orient the panels east/west rather than south-facing. East-facing panels will produce more energy in the morning, west-facing more energy in the late-afternoon. With respect to energy autonomy, the goal is not to produce the maximum but what is needed. This is, for example, the case for the off-grid Arpont chalet in the French Alps, where the DualSun panels are oriented east/west to be able to produce more energy in the morning and the evening and less during the day, when the shelter is pretty empty!

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Does Your House Face The Best Direction For Solar Panels

As you seek to optimize the performance of your residential solar panels, there are a number of factors to consider. One thing youll want to think about is the best direction for solar panels. The orientation of your roof in relation to the sun can have a huge impact on overall solar efficiency.

In this article, well outline the best direction for solar panel orientation as well as the optimal angle. Well also explain solar tracking technology, which can ensure your panels face the sun for as long as possible each day. Read on to learn more, or click below to get connected with one of the best installers in the business right away.

Solar Panel Tracking Systems

For ground-mounted panels, you might also consider installing a solar panel tracking system. Solar trackers maximize panel efficiency by rotating your panels throughout the day, allowing them to follow the movement of the sun from its rise to its set. Just how much more efficient can a tracker make your solar panel system?

One study showed that on a clear day, the average efficiency of a tracking panel was about 67%, while fixed panels only got about 40% efficiency. As you consider solar panel tracking systems, youll need to decide between a single-axis or a dual-axis system.

Single axis systems only move in one direction, typically north to south. A dual axis system allows for movement along the north-south axis and the east-west axis. Dual axis systems take up more space, and thus are mostly used in commercial settings.

They can certainly be effective, enabling your solar panels to reposition in accordance with changing seasons when the sun is higher or lower in the sky, but they typically arent necessary for residential use.

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What Are Solar Panel Tracking Systems And How Can They Help

Every homeowner wants their PV units to trap sunlight and produce great amounts of electricity, but sun-powered systems direction and angle are not the only hacks to improve the photovoltaic cells effectiveness.

This is where sun panel tracking systems come in handy because they have proven to help you supplement output by guaranteeing perpendicular exposure to natural light even in winter or fall.

Fascinatingly, by rotating photovoltaic cells to follow the suns journey from sunrise to sunset, surveys have found that trackers give over 67% efficiency compared to 40% efficiency when using fixed PV panels without trackers.

You have found out that sun energy tracking systems are your best companion, but how do you know the best choice for your house? You can consider single-axis or dual-axis gadgetry.

Specifically, the single-axis will ordinarily move between the south and north, whereas the dual-axis tend to move from the north-south to the east-west axis.

• Post author:Solar Sena

The table below lists the optimal tilt angle and direction for fixed solar panels for the US cities and regions by zip codes.

Note: The optimal title angle does not change for different zip codes within the same city or region. Also, the optimal direction for fixed solar panels is south for the entire US. If your city is not listed in the below table, you use SolarSenas optimal tilt angle calculator to find the angle for your desired location.

How Do You Find The Best Solar Panel Tilt For Your Latitude

Now that you know more about the solar panel angle and why choosing the right angle is important, you might be interested in finding the right angle for your solar panel as well. Fortunately, finding the right solar panel tilt or angle is quite easy since it depends on your latitude.

This is due to the reason that if your latitude is near the equator, then you will have to lay your solar panels almost flat. But if you are closer to the poles, then you will need to install your solar panels more upright. You can refer to the following table for choosing the right solar panel tilt or solar panel angle as per your latitude:

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What Factors Affect Your Optimal Solar Panel Angle

A number of factors will alter the optimal angle of your solar panels. Here are some important things to consider to determine the best tilt for your solar panel array:

Voltaic Panels And Machine Learning

Finding the optimal angle of inclination of the panel for the Solar System is a critical problem, as it effectively converts sunlight into energy. Several studies have used different research methods to find the angle of inclination that increases solar panels output. However, recent studies have observed that conversion effectiveness depends not only on the radiation volume received. Kim et al. proposed a photovoltaic panel slope optimization model using machine learning algorithms. Preferably than maximizing the received radiation, the goal is to find the angle of inclination that maximizes the converted power of the Solar System. Using the best predictive model, their model improved PV output compared to the optimal angular model.

Jacobson et al. provide an estimate of the maximum inclination angle for PV panels for any country in the world. They also estimate solar radiation that stands on panels that are found or bent better than horizontal panels worldwide. Most shields are derived from the National Renewable Energy Research Institutes PV Watts program. A simple multidimensional pass is obtained for the maximum slope against the latitude. The pass fits better with data above 40° latitude than the previous linear pass.

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The Impact Of Angle And Direction On Solar Panel Output

Technically, you can face your solar panels in any direction theyll still generate some electricity, just not very much of it.

And the further you face your panels away from their optimate direction, the less energy theyll generate.

The table below outlines how much the angle and orientation of the solar panel impacts its effectiveness, with 100% indicating the maximum output.

What Is Solar Power

A collection of photovoltaic cells gathered together beneath a glass layer are known as solar panels.

When attached to a roof, they react with photons from sunlight to generate clean, safe, reliable power. It is passed through an inverter and becomes usable electricity.

Facing solar panels directly towards the sun enables them to harvest the maximum amount of solar energy. There is a science to knowing the perfect solar panel angle, depending on where you live and the time of year.

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Solar Panel Orientation And Elevation:

So weve 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. So whats the effect on output the further you go from these optimum conditions?

Well, obviously the further you go from either of the optimum positions the more your output will drop. However the elevation doesnt drop off as much as you might imagine because the sun will still shine on them even in a horizontal position.

However as soon as your panels elevation drops below around 12º from horizontal they wont be able to self-clean themselves quite as well and once they get dirty their output will reduce.

Now that youve got the basics youll be able to look at the table below and see exactly what effect your roof elevation and orientation is likely to have on your solar panels output.