Solar Panel Sun Angle

While you can use solar panel trackers to keep them at the optimum angle at all times the costs and complications involved aren t worth it in most cases.

Solar panel sun angle.

Today we re going to explain how to mount your solar panels to get the most energy from them. Elevation is measured in degrees up from the horizon. 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. On the contrary in the countries of the southern hemisphere such as south africa and australia the best orientation is true north.

The sun moves across the sky and will be low or high depending on the time of the day and the season. For comparison the green line shows the energy you would get from two axis tracking which always points the panel directly at the sun. The optimum angle varies throughout the year depending on the seasons and your location and this calculator shows the difference in sun. The vertical tilt of your panels.

Welcome to another entry in our ongoing solar 101 series. Calculating the ideal angle for your solar panels is not that difficult. The violet line is the solar energy per day if the panel is fixed at the winter angle discussed below these figures are calculated for 40 latitude. To get the best out of your photovoltaic panels you need to angle them towards the sun.

Elevation angle and azimuth angle commonly shortened to angle and azimuth for brevity. Azimuth is measured in degrees clockwise from north. If your solar panels will have a fixed tilt. While the sun is in a higher position in the sky during the summer and lower position during the winter it has an average position right in between the two seasons.

Solar panels give the highest energy output when they are directly facing the sun. Solar panels on a shallow roof capture more sunlight during the summer season whereas solar panels on a steep roof will produce more power during the winter. This solar angle calculator tells you the optimum angle to get the best out of your system. Since solar panels are more productive when the sun s rays are perpendicular to their surfaces the certainly best orientation is the one directly true south azimuth angle 180.

Let s start with two key terms. Az el both report dark after astronomical twilight.