Why Direction Matters For Solar Panels

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.

Why direction matters for solar panels.

Grime and bird poop doesn t need to cover an entire panel to have an effect. The angle of your roof actually has less impact on solar panel performance than the direction your solar energy system faces. Usually this is the best direction because solar panels will receive direct light throughout the day. This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere.

This means that your solar panels will be put in a unique direction specifically to maximize energy production between this time range. It is at this location that your panels will receive the maximum sunlight throughout the day. In general there s one big rule. Or elsewhere in the northern hemisphere the best direction for solar panels to face is true south though there is an exception.

However solar panels can be orientated on any roof that faces south of either east or west. Apart from how much power each panel can produce how many panels you ll need what size and how well they ll work with your rooftop you ll also want to consider the best direction for solar panels to face. The more sunlight reaches your solar panels the more electricity you can generate and the more money you ll be able to save on your electric bill. However there is a difference between magnetic south and true south that must be considered.

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. This is where cleaning solar panels may have to be done. For solar panel owners that are under a tou payment system the best way to save money on your electric bill is to produce more energy during peak hours than during off hours. For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south.

Face panels west for tou ratepayers. Solar panels are generally self cleaning but in particularly dry areas or where panel tilt is minimal dust and other substances such as bird droppings can build up over time and impact on the amount electricity generated by a module. In the northern hemisphere the general rule for solar panel placement is solar panels should face true south and in the southern true north. So why is all of this important for the direction that your solar panels face.

Solar panels should face south for any home in america to obtain maximum power generation. Optimal electricity production occurs when solar panels face south at a tilt equal to 30. However even if you lower the tilt of your roof all the way down to 5 production only decreases by about 10 percent. The most optimum direction to face your solar panels is somewhere between south and west.

Therefore directions like southwest or southeast are fine.