Why Solar Panels Face South

Many people ask the question why do solar panels face south a fundamental fact many people are aware of is that the sun rises in the east and sets toward the west.

Why solar panels face south.

During the summer the sun is higher up in the sky but it s still on the south side. Watch out for your belt buckle. When the sun is at its highest point in the sky solar noon any shadow cast by a telephone pole or some other perfectly vertical object will run perfect true north south. This is done to ease the pressure on the grid.

Since most sunlight comes from the south this will make your panels more productive. If you live in the usa or any other country in the northern hemisphere the best direction to face solar panels is south. When taking a compass reading never hold the compass near metal as it will throw off your reading. Occasionally you might see solar panels face east west especially in countries like germany.

Face panels south for non tou ratepayers for those who are not part of a tou model with their utility company the direction that you want to face your solar panels is south. Other solar power posts you may like. Usually this is the best direction because solar panels will receive direct light throughout the day. In the northern hemisphere the general rule for solar panel placement is solar panels should face true south and in the southern true north.

However if the local power company charges higher prices in the afternoon your panels should face west to maximize the dollar savings. However there is a difference between magnetic south and true south that must be considered. Why solar panels shouldn t always face south you should carefully consider which way to face your solar panels. This is due to our location in the northern hemisphere and the fact that the sun is in the southern sky year round in our location.

This is so that you can expose your solar panels to as much light as possible to optimize their energy production. In the northern hemisphere the best direction to face solar panels is south since that is generally where they receive the most sunlight. In the southern hemisphere facing the north is ideal.