Optimal Sun Angle For Solar Panels

Solar panels produce electricity when sunlight hits their surface and they produce the most energy when that sunlight is exactly perpendicular to the panel face.

Optimal sun angle for solar panels.

At different times of the year the optimal angle may be slightly or even significantly different. The following table gives the best dates on which to adjust. For instance in the san francisco bay area the best solar panel tilt angle is between 22 23 degrees. To get the best out of your photovoltaic panels you need to angle them towards the sun.

On the contrary in the countries of the southern hemisphere such as south africa and australia the best orientation is true north. The general rule of thumb is that panels angled at the latitude angle plus 15 is best to maximise winter sun exposure. In this case for the solar panels to get their best performance a steep angle of 60 is best. However if you live in an urban area in the united states you might just be able to find the best angle for the photovoltaic panels with your zip code.

Therefore the best angle for your solar panels is the one that allows the panels to get the most direct perpendicular light. For a precise method use the second formula on this page to calculate tilt angle. If you are going to adjust the tilt of your solar panels twice a year and you want to get the most energy over the whole year then this section is for you. If your latitude is between 25 and 50 then the best tilt angle for summer is the latitude times 0 93 minus 21 degrees.

During the winter in the northern hemisphere for example the sun is low in relation to the horizon. For starters there is no single ideal angle for solar panels. The summer optimum tilt angle on the other hand will be 34 15 19. The optimum angle varies throughout the year depending on the seasons and your location and this calculator shows the difference in sun height on a month by month basis.

For los angeles a solar panel tilt of 19 degrees works the best. 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.