Which Direction Do Solar Panels Need To Face

Solar south or geographic south.

Which direction do solar panels need to face.

Since most sunlight comes from the south this will make your panels more productive. Recently the new york times and popular science even purported that solar panels should face west rather than south to avoid unintended consequences. In the northern hemisphere the general rule for solar panel placement is solar panels should face true south and in the southern true north. To correct the compass reading your solar installer will calculate the magnetic declination of your site.

If you live in the usa or any other country in the northern hemisphere the best direction to face solar panels is south. However there is a difference between magnetic south and true south that must be considered. We can install panels on south east or west facing roofs. For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south.

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. But in general there s one big rule. 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. However if the local power company charges higher prices in the afternoon your panels should face west to maximize the dollar savings.

The direction solar panels should face is true south a k a. This is so that you can expose your solar panels to as much light as possible to optimize their energy production. The short answer is no. However solar panels can be orientated on any roof that faces south of either east or west.

The most optimum direction to face your solar panels is somewhere between south and west. For those who are not part of a tou model with their utility company the direction that you want to face your solar panels is south. This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere. If your roof does not face the right direction then surface mounted panels or pole mounted panels may be your best bet.

However each of the above only considers. If you re in australia or elsewhere in the southern hemisphere your solar panels should face north. Solar panels should face south for any home in america to obtain maximum power generation. Therefore directions like southwest or southeast are fine.

True south can also be calculated at noon when shadows from vertical objects run north south.