If you re in the u s.
Best orientation of solar panels.
However solar panels can be orientated on any roof that faces south of either east or west.
However the electricity system is not as simple as it sometimes seems and the best direction to face solar panels may actually be west.
Or elsewhere in the northern hemisphere the best direction for solar panels to face is true south though there is an exception.
Panel directions and the type of households various orientations generally best suit are given below.
This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere.
North facing solar panels are often the best choice for people who are at home during the day.
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.
The rule is that if you live in the southern hemisphere you should point your panels true north and if you live in the northern hemisphere you should point them true south.
Still an exceptional orientation if the majority of your energy consumption occurs between 10 am and 2 pm daily.
The angle that a solar panel should be set.
Orientation of the 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.
For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south.
Solar panel orientation direction.
In the northern hemisphere the general rule for solar panel placement is solar panels should face true.
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.
Therefore directions like southwest or southeast are fine.
Now a compass tells you magnetic north and south but it does not show you true north and south.
The angle or tilt of a solar panel is also an important consideration.
Fixed tilt solar.
The conventional wisdom in the northern hemisphere is that the best direction to face solar panels is south since that is generally where they d receive the most sunlight.
If you ignore the possibility of a solar tracker in the past it was considered a solar panel orientation on an aspect angled toward the equator was the best location for a solar energy system.
The best panel direction to maximise self consumption of solar electricity will depend upon a household s electricity usage patterns.
Panels that face north will produce the most electricity overall.