Best Direction For Solar Panels To Face

It is at this location that your panels will receive the maximum sunlight throughout the day.

Best direction for solar panels to face.

The direction solar panels should face is true south a k a. The most optimum direction to face your solar panels is somewhere between south and west. In the northern hemisphere solar panels should generally face south toward the sun. Therefore directions like southwest or southeast are fine.

Each solar panel must be exposed to direct sunlight to produce the most electricity. True south can also be calculated at noon when shadows from vertical objects run north south. However solar panels can be orientated on any roof that faces south of either east or west. This being the case the general best practice to date has always been to position solar panels facing south in order to capture the maximum amount of sunlight overall.

This is so that you can expose your solar panels to as much light as possible to optimize their energy production. To correct the compass reading your solar installer will calculate the magnetic declination of your site. If your roof does not face the right direction then surface mounted panels or pole mounted panels may be your best bet. 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.

Generally it s common knowledge in the solar industry that these south facing panels should be tilted between a 30 and 40 degree angle. Solar south or geographic south.