Sun Angle For Solar Panels

To get the best out of your photovoltaic panels you need to angle them towards the sun.

Sun angle for solar panels. For instance if your latitude is 34 the optimum tilt angle for your solar panels during winter will be 34 15 49. This decline is due to the fact that solar panels during most of the day are exposed to weak and not perpendicular sunlight. For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south. Solar panel angle is another way of describing the vertical tilt of your pv system.

The optimum angle varies throughout the year depending on the seasons and your location and this calculator shows the difference in sun height on a month by month basis. When a solar system is level with the ground it has no tilt. It just depends on where you live. However if the panels are turned at an angle greater than 45 compared to true south production begins to decrease significantly.

At 90 from true south therefore east and west production can drop to 30. 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. The solar panel angle can affect the amount of solar electricity you generate and is based on two factors. The solar radiation that the panels receive is almost the same.

If it s standing upright perpendicular to the ground it is at a 90 angle. As a general rule of thumb keep in mind that the panels need to be more vertical during winter to face the lower sun directly and more tilted towards the ground during summer to face the higher sun. Find the best angle for optimizing solar collection during winter when solar energy is most scarce by multiplying your latitude by 0 89 and then adding 24 degrees. This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere.

The optimum tilt angle is calculated by adding 15 degrees to your latitude during winter and subtracting 15 degrees from your latitude during summer. Calculating the ideal angle for your solar panels is not that difficult. This solar angle calculator tells you the optimum angle to get the best out of your system.