Best Angle And Orientation For Solar Panels

Orientation of the panels.

Best angle and orientation for solar panels. These angles will give you the best overall output over the course of the year if you re going for a fixed installation. A general rule for optimal annual energy production is to set the solar panel tilt angle equal to the geographical latitude. For instance in the san francisco bay area the best solar panel tilt angle is between 22 23 degrees. This gives us an accurate output from which we calculate the cost and savings you will get based on your local solar prices and the amount you pay your utility company for electricity.

We then place panels on your roof in the best available places and measure the specific output of these panels based on their positions. Similarly you can calculate the angle for winter by adding 15. Therefore to get the very best out of your photovoltaic panels you would typically face them due south at the optimum angle so that the panel is receiving as much sunlight as possible at this time. Both of these angles require latitude degrees.

And then for summer the tilt solar panel angle calculation is done and processed by multiplying the latitude range by 0 9. Latitude 2 5 degrees. In the northern hemisphere the sun is due south at solar noon. It s actually possible to increase energy production.

For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south. 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. Whatever your latitude is you can subtract 15 from it to calculate the angle for summer. Then you have to subtract 23 5 degrees the final solar panel angle will appear to be 34 0 9 23 5 7 1 degrees.

Essentially the closer a solar panel is located to the equator the more the panel should be pointing straight up. 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. 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. There are two methods for calculating the tilt angle for solar panels.

The answers you end up with are the best angles for each particular season. Latitude x 0 9 23 5 degrees. For example if the location of the solar array is at 50 o latitude the optimal tilt angle is also 50 o. Latitude x 0 9 29 degrees.