What’s the Best Solar Panel Direction and Angle?
Your solar system will generate maximum electricity when sunlight strikes the panels at maximum intensity.
The right solar panel direction and angle ensure sunlight strikes your solar panels at 90°, leading to maximum power absorption. You must check the direction, tilt angle, and azimuth angle for a perfect solar orientation. Here we have clearly detailed the steps you need to take to ensure the correct solar panel orientation.
Solar panel direction and angle refers to the orientation of solar panels in a solar system. It comprises 2 components:
- The direction solar panels face
- Solar panels’ tilt and azimuth angle of inclination
As the sun’s position changes with time, it is important to maintain the right direction and angle of solar panels for maximum electricity generation.
Why Correct Solar Panel Orientation is So Important?
When do you think a solar panel generates maximum electricity?
Solar electricity generation is maximum when sunlight falls perpendicularly on solar panels. This is because the steeper the angle at which sunlight strikes your solar panels, the more energy the sunlight will carry. When the angle is less, the sunlight is spread over a larger area, thus reducing the intensity of solar radiation.
Therefore, correct solar panel orientation is important to generate maximum electricity.
Which is the Best Direction for Solar Panels in India?
India is in the northern hemisphere. So, the country is entirely above the equator.
The best solar panel direction in India is southwards. When the solar panels face south, the sunlight falls at close to 90° on solar panels. Mostly sunlight won’t fall exactly perpendicular because the sun’s position changes a lot throughout the year. Nonetheless, the electricity generation will be maximum compared to any other direction.
But what about the East-West orientation of solar panels? You can find the answer as we explain “azimuth angle” in the next section.
Which is the Best Angle for Solar Panels in India?
There are 2 kinds of angles you will come across when it comes to solar panels:
- Tilt Angle
It is the angle between solar panels and the ground. If you have an inclined roof, you can measure the tilt angle from a roof’s surface.
As the sun’s position is not fixed, finding a 100% accurate tilt angle throughout the day is impossible. Instead, you can go for an optimum tilt angle.
To generate maximum electricity across 365 days, you can set up solar panels at a tilt angle which equals the latitude of a solar system’s location.
During summer, the tilt angle should be latitude minus 10-15°.
During winter, the tilt angle should be latitude plus 10-15°.
Please note that the above recommendations are generic. An expert solar installer can determine the correct tilt angle after performing proper calculations. You can connect with us to find the right solar system installer from your location.
- Azimuth Angle
The azimuth angle is an angle solar panels make on the horizontal plane. It is usually measured from the north.
The azimuth angle is important for determining the correct east-west orientation of the solar panels. It varies across locations. A solar expert can tell you the right azimuth angle for your solar system.
For Better Solar Orientation Which Matters More: Angle or Direction?
The ideal solar panel direction is more important than the angle of inclination. Though solar power production can vary by a few percentage points with different tilt angles, the wrong direction leads to a drastic fall in the solar system’s power output.
Which Factors Affect Solar Panel Direction and Angle?
You must keep these factors in mind for the optimal solar panel orientation:
- Location
Latitude and longitude vary with location. As we have already stated, the optimum tilt angle depends on the latitude of a place. With latitude, an expert can figure out how far north your solar system is located, and decide the tilt angle accordingly. With longitude, solar installers figure out the desirable east-west orientation of the solar panels.
- Inclination of Roof
How steep your roof is affects the position of solar panels on the roof. A solar installer can calculate the tilt and azimuth angle based on the roof’s angle of inclination.
Another factor to keep in mind is the area a solar system requires. How big a racking system can be and how it will be set up depends on the free area available on a roof.
- Seasonal Changes
The sun’s position changes across the year. During summer, the sunlight’s angle of incidence is greater than in winter. Thus, the optimal tilt angle must be greater in winter than in summer for maximum solar electricity output.
Besides the correct solar panel direction and perfect azimuth and angle, you need to ensure no shadow falls on your solar panels.
It is important to prevent shadows from falling on your solar panels. A solar system can stop working altogether if a shadow falls on your solar panels. That’s why there must not be any obstructions in the path of sunlight.
Should I Change the Solar Panel Direction and Angle Throughout the Year?
As the sun’s trajectory changes with time, the optimum angle for solar panels also changes throughout the year. During summer, a lower tilt angle is preferable than in winter. Therefore, ideally, you can change the tilt angle throughout the year.
However, it is impractical to change solar panel direction and angle across a year. The gains from optimising the solar panel set-up are not worth it compared to the time, effort, and cost of changing the solar panel orientation. Thus, you can settle for a fixed solar panel orientation which gives you a desirable output throughout the year.
Should I Install a Solar Tracker?
A solar tracking system follows sun’s movement and points solar panels directly towards the sun. Thus, sunlight strikes solar panels perpendicularly, maximising your solar electricity output.
In most domestic solar systems, a solar tracking system will lead to more gains in power output. However, considering the price, their real utility lies in large-scale solar farms meant for commercial power production.
Do Hiring Professional Installer for Right Solar Panel Direction and Angle Worth It?
Your solar system installer must have the experience and expertise to install your solar system. You must check if they are DISCOM-empanelled to verify their credentials.
You can connect with us at Das Energie; we have thoroughly vetted solar installers across India. You can get free quotations from them to install your solar system.
Installing a solar system is a long-term investment. You expect to reap solar electricity for 25 to 30 years. Correct solar panel direction and angle are critical for getting the maximum ROI. The direction and angle of solar panels vary according to location, season, and obstructions in the path of sunlight.
Frequently Asked Questions
An easy way to find your roof’s direction is to locate your house on Google Maps. Edges of your screen indicate North, South, East, and West. So if your roof faces the bottom of your screen, you have a south-facing roof.
You have to find out the ideal solar panel direction and angle. Then, install a solar system as per your requirements.
It depends on your location. In India, most solar systems are installed with a southward orientation. You have to check your latitude and longitude for an optimum solar orientation.
