If your latitude is between 25 and 50 use the latitude times 0 76 plus 3 1 degrees.
Solar panel latitude michigan.
The angle of tilt increases with latitude the further your house is from the equator the higher your tilt angle should be.
Solar panel angle by zip code.
Use one of these formulas to find the best angle from the horizontal at which the panel should be tilted.
A guidebook for community solar programs in michigan communities this report is intended to help guide michigan groups through the web of rules and regulations specific to community solar in michigan and provide up front information to enthusiasts community groups and developers on how to.
Here two simple methods for calculating approximate solar panel angle according to your latitude.
In order to collect energy more efficiently solar panels should be angled to face as close to the sun as possible.
This makes solar power a sound investment because every unit of energy produced is worth more than the average price of electricity in the us.
Additionally some michigan utility companies offer net metering which allows solar customers to receive a 1 to 1 credit for excess energy their solar power systems send back to the grid.
The maximum energy production is achieved at midday when the sun reaches its maximum altitude on the horizon.
Calculating the optimal solar panel angle.
Michigan homeowners who add solar panels may be able to take advantage of the current 26 federal solar tax credit.
As a rule of thumb solar panels should be more vertical during winter to gain most of the low winter sun and more tilted during summer to maximize the output.
Most solar arrays are installed at a tilt.
If your latitude is below 25 use the latitude times 0 87.
For example in states located at lower latitudes such as arizona and hawaii the sun is higher in the sky.
A panel covered in snow produces little or no power.
We therefore need to know during the year the maximum and minimum altitude of the sun at midday in order to discover how many degrees our panels have to be tilted.
What is the best solar panel tilt for your latitude.
This analysis is for a 5 kw photo voltaic system exposed to the average sunlight conditions of michigan.
Solar panel angle by zip code your life would be much easier if you could just find out what angle is the optimal solar panel angle in your city or county.
The average cost of a solar panel installation in michigan ranges from 13 472 to 18 228.
On a cost per watt w basis a solar panel installation in michigan ranges in price from 2 69 to 3 65.
Although there are sunnier states than michigan the average electricity price is around 0 14 kwh which is above the national average.
The table below features a solar panel angle by zip code for at least one city from every state.