If your roof does not face the right direction then surface mounted panels or pole mounted panels may be your best bet.
Best direction to have solar panels face.
But that s all just the back story now let s get to the interesting point of the week which is the best direction to face solar panels the answer seems to go against a very long held assumption regarding this matter.
If you re in the u s.
This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere.
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.
If you are in the southern hemisphere then face them north.
The direction that your solar panels face is ultimately dependent on whether or not your system is connected through net energy metering nem and under a time of use tou payment structure.
Net energy metering and time of use.
Generally speaking the panels should be facing towards the equator.
Since the majority of solar panel owners keep their system on the grid we can split this grouping into simply those who pay for energy based on a tou payment.
12 comments on what s the best direction to face your solar panels.
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.
Over the last few years we have created the first online solar production calculator that works out the exact solar production that you will get for your home based on the direction and.
The steeper it is the more it is an issue.
The most optimum direction to face your solar panels is somewhere between south and west.
Nelson dcastro said.
For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south.
In general there s one big rule.
6 panels on the east and west in parallel and 9 panels on another string on the west.
Guest report 12 months ago re.
Michael mackay i just installed my 6 615kw system last week with w e and n orientation.
The flatter the roof the less solar energy production falls when panels face east or west rather than south.
This makes electricity from fuel free solar power plants extremely valuable.
So that leaves north and south and choosing between these two directions to install your solar panels comes down the hemisphere we live in.
Solar panels that face west will have the opposite problem a lack of sun exposure in the morning but great exposure in the evening.
It is at this location that your panels will receive the maximum sunlight throughout the day.
Some who install them on their roofs are somewhat limited but if you have the luxury of choosing exactly how you want your system setup there are a few tricks you can use.
Or elsewhere in the northern hemisphere the best direction for solar panels to face is true south though there is an exception.