Optimal Orientation For Annual Collection Solar Panel

An additional 3 5 though can be gained by evaluating this more carefully.

Optimal orientation for annual collection solar panel.

The summer optimum tilt angle on the other hand will be 34 15 19. Changing the direction of your solar panels in california throughout the year. Annual optimal orientation of fixed tilt solar collectors when mounting a fixed tilt solar collector it is critical to understand the optimal orientation of the solar collector. For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south.

Here pvwatts is used to estimate annually averaged solar output in all countries of the world assuming tilted panels. The optimum tilt angle is calculated by adding 15 degrees to your latitude during winter and subtracting 15 degrees from your latitude during summer. A general rule for optimal annual energy production is to set the solar panel tilt angle equal to the geographical latitude. A solar panel tilt of 19 degrees will work best in los angeles.

That tilt angle is the optimal tilt angle. To further gain electricity production from solar panels. Solar panels should always face true south in the northern hemisphere north in the southern hemisphere tilted from the hoizontal at a degree equal to your latitude plus 15 degrees in winter or minus 15 degrees in summer. Once again this is if you do not have any auto adjusting or pivoting solar panels which change their angle throughout the year or during the day.

The optimal tilt angle in each location is found by calculating panel output with different tilt angles until the tilt angle giving the maximum output is found. Essentially the closer a solar panel is located to the equator the more the panel should be pointing straight up. True north is not the same as magnetic north. 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.

Solar panels should always face true south if you are in the northern hemisphere or true north if you are in the southern hemisphere. Tilting panels at say 40 degrees will give a much more consistent solar output through the year than tilting at the angle of optimal annual output which is 24 degrees. For example if the location of the solar array is at 50 o latitude the optimal tilt angle is also 50 o. 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.

Since you can t export your surplus solar electricity for a feed in tariff it makes sense to optimise the tilt to match your consumption. Orientation of the panels. For instance if your latitude is 34 the optimum tilt angle for your solar panels during winter will be 34 15 49. If you are using a compass to orient your panels you need to correct for the difference which varies from place to place.

The table below features a solar panel angle by zip code for at least one city from every state.