The Best Angle For Solar Panels
Solar panels need direct sunlight to generate electricity, so orienting solar panels at a perpendicular angle to incoming sunlight will optimize productivity. Considering achieving that angle is not always feasible and that the relative position of the sun changes throughout the year, it begs the questions… What is the best angle for solar panels? What is the best orientation for solar panels?
The optimal orientation for a solar system
Living in the northern hemisphere, the sun is oriented in the southern direction. For that reason, it is optimal to place your solar system in a southward facing position. This will grant the solar system with the greatest amount of sunlight exposure, allowing it to take advantage of more sunlight hours than if it were oriented towards a different cardinal direction.
Eastern facing solar systems will get their best exposure in the morning as the sun rises. Western facing systems will produce most in the late afternoon as the sun is setting. While solar systems with these orientations won’t maximize the sun’s daytime potential, they could serve as ideal orientations for an off-grid solar system with the primary purpose of generating energy at specific periods of day.
The best angle for solar panels
Solar panels perform best when sunlight hits them at a direct or near perpendicular angle. This optimal angle will fluctuate throughout the year as the relative position of the sun changes as a result of Earth’s seasonal tilt. Because of this changing angle, a compromise should be struck to best take advantage of the sun’s average position.
The summer months have the sun higher in the sky and more directly overhead as your latitude tilts toward the sun. The winter months see the sun lower in the sky as your latitude tilts away from the sun. Since most residential solar systems are in a fixed position to avoid maintenance and reduce costs, the best angle for your solar panels will be approximately the same as your own latitude. For Texas homeowners, this means the best angle for solar panels will lay between 26° and 36°. This will allow your solar panels to take advantage of the sun’s average annual position.
In the case that you install an adjustable solar system so that you can optimize solar production in accordance with the seasons, you will likely want to take your annual average (the angle equal to your latitude) and add a 15° tilt in the winter to account for the lower hanging sun, and in the summer you will want to reduce your average tilt by 15° to be more perpendicular to the overhead summer sun.
Max production versus ideal energy profile
The ideal orientation for your solar system should also depend on your solar system’s intended purpose. For most, this means a grid-connected solar system designed to generate enough electricity to offset energy needs.
In this case, homeowners receive compensation for the solar energy their system produces. That means they’ll want to maximize solar energy output, so having a southward facing solar system angled at the degree equivalent of the home’s latitude will serve best.
On the other hand, if you are isolated from the grid and designing a solar system to power your lifestyle , then you will want to consider what times you have the greatest demand for electricity. If it’s in the morning, an eastward facing solar system could serve you best. Conversely, late afternoon activity is best suited for a westward facing solar system. If you primarily use power in the winter, then you’ll want a more steeply angled system than if your greatest electricity demand comes during the summer.
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