Solar Panel Facing Direction

Since the majority of solar panel owners keep their system on the grid we can split this grouping into simply those who pay for energy based on a tou payment.

Solar panel facing direction.

Solar panels however need to face solar or geographic south which is the direction towards the south pole. Some had only south facing panels others had west facing panels and some had both. Panels mounted on a standard pitch roof facing east or west will produce approximately 15 less output than panels mounted on a south facing roof of a standard pitch. However you would want to face your solar panels in the opposite direction of where your shadows face.

For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south. The most optimum direction to face your solar panels is somewhere between south and west. This is the direction your solar panels should face. This is a simple tried and true way to.

To correct the compass reading your solar installer will calculate the magnetic declination of your site. True south can also be calculated at noon when shadows from vertical objects run north south. The research is the first of its kind to evaluate the energy production of solar panels oriented in different directions. If your roof does not face the right direction then surface mounted panels or pole mounted panels may be your best bet.

Consider reading about how a solar panel works before moving forward. The direction that your solar panels face is ultimately dependent on whether or not your system is connected through net energy metering nem and under a time of use tou payment structure. West facing solar panels get less sun than those that face south but it s not as little as you may think. On the other hand if you live in the southern hemisphere you can use this same technique.

This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere. Pecan street analyzed 50 homes in the austin texas area. Net energy metering and time of use. You could even stick a stick in the ground and take note.

By the same reasoning if the solar panel is located in the southern hemisphere the panel should instead face in the direction of true north. Another simple method is to look at your house on. According to the concord consortium makers of energy3d solar energy modeling software a home in boston ma with panels that face west would get 80 of the electricity that a house with south facing panels would. Solar south or geographic south.

As a result solar panels facing south produce the most electricity. However the economics of installing solar panels on a roof that does not face the south still usually stack up for the homeowner. Since the sun rises in the east solar panels facing in that direction are more productive in the morning. 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.