What's In This Article
Solar power has become a hot topic lately. The cost of solar energy continues to drop, and its popularity is growing at a rapid pace.
If you want to get into solar energy, you should consider buying a solar panel system.
Solar power is a clean source of energy that doesn’t emit harmful gasses or pollutants.
It’s also renewable, meaning that it won’t run out anytime soon. In addition, solar power is becoming cheaper every year.
Solar power is a great way to generate electricity without using fossil fuels. There are two main types of solar panels: photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP).
PV panels convert sunlight directly into electricity, whereas CSP uses mirrors to focus light onto a single point.
The Basics
Solar panels should be oriented towards the sun, and the direction that offers the most sunlight is south throughout the day is the south.
As such, you should orient your solar panels based on geographical south. This allows for maximum energy production during the day.
You should also check out other options such as solar carport or ground-mounted solar panels.
Choosing A South-Facing Direction
Solar panels should face due south. In other words, the panel should be positioned directly over the zenith point of the sun.
A 30-degree tilt is recommended for northern climates, as solar panel installation requires specific angles
For southern climates, the panel should be tilted at least 40 degrees. Rooftop slopes should be steep
enough to let installers place solar panels without having to cut into the roof. Snow slides off of solar panels easier when installed at an angle.
When To Choose West Or East Facing Panels?
South-facing panels are best for people who want to save money and harness as much power as possible during daylight hours, but that doesn’t mean that other directions are a total bust.
Setting your panels up facing to the west or east will still help you bring those nasty power bills down and
ease the energy burden on the planet, but you can expect to lose about 15% efficiency.
Over a long period, that’s a lot of energy lost when compared to panels that face true south,
but it’s much better than having no supplementary energy at all.
Having said that, there is no reason to choose a west or east facing installation if a south facing installation is on the cards. If possible, always go south.
What If You Can’t Quite Align Panels With True South?
Don’t sweat it if you can’t get a perfect alignment with the sun’s southern zenith, as south western and southeastern installations also fare incredibly well.
You’ll likely only lose a very small fraction of your yield if your panels are slightly skewed from the south.
Are North Facing Panels Out Of The Question?
Generally speaking, installing North facing panels is seen as sort of redundant. They just won’t gather enough solar energy to make installation worthwhile.
Confused About Solar Panels?
You don’t have to decide on your own. There are professionals out there that are solar pros who can help you navigate the many different options available to you.
Even if you don’t have rates where you live right now, they might be coming soon.
Places can help you size and position your panels, as well as advise on how to save with tax breaks or incentives when you go solar!
The All Important Rule On Angles
It’s also important to choose the proper angle for your solar panels, in addition to the finest direction.
The usual rule of thumb is to align the tilt angle of the solar panels with the geographical latitude.
Your solar panels’ angle will ensure that the sun reaches them perpendicularly, resulting in the most solar production and, as a result, the most electricity bill savings for your household.
That stated, you should think about how the weather affects solar panels. Heavy snowfall is a good example of this.
If you live in an area of the country where there is a lot of snow, your solar panels might not be as effective as they could be.
You can reduce the accumulation of snow or other debris by tilting your panels at a steeper angle.
This may sound complicated, but expert solar installers will work with you to develop a solar power system that works best for you,
including advising you on where to place your panels, how to angle them, and other details.
Why Choosing Direction And Angle Is Important For Tracking
For ground-mounted panels, we recommend installing a solar panel tracking system.
These systems rotate your panels throughout the day to allow them to follow the movement of the sun from its rise until its set.
You should choose between a single-axis system or a dual-axis tracking system.
A single-axis system only moves in one direction. Dual-axis systems allow for movement along both the north-south axis,
as well as the east-west axis, but these systems are more expensive than single-axis systems. Dual axis systems take up more space.
Commercial applications need them because of the large amount of space needed to store energy. Residential uses don’t require dual axis systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is The Direction Of The Solar Panel So Important?
The direction of the panels is critical for capturing the most sunlight and hence producing the most electricity.
What is the optimal direction to have the best production on a fixed installation?
During the day, south-facing roofs receive the greatest sunlight and thus the most solar energy.
Why Do My Solar Panels Need To Face South?
The economics of solar are improved by facing your panels south in three ways: it optimizes solar production,
it maximizes your ability to use net metering, and it maximizes your ability to use battery storage.
Why Should You Get Solar Panels Installed In Your Home?
One of the reasons why many people have installed solar panels, even if they have energy, is to increase grid security. When there are outages, the solar panels create power automatically.
Solar power is also a green and renewable power source, so installing solar panels is a fantastic way to do your bit for the planet.
Are Solar Panels A Viable Energy Source?
Solar technology is improving at an insane rate, meaning it’s becoming more and more of a viable energy source for both commercial and residential applications.
By investing in solar panels today, we can help sculpt a better tomorrow, and save ourselves some money in the long run too. It’s a win-win!
Summary
Solar panels should be installed in an optimal position. South-west facing panels are more efficient than other directions.
Adjusting the orientation of the panels slightly can make them more effective. The energy yield of solar panels facing subpar directions will be incredibly limited.
