Which Direction Do Solar Panels Need To Face

However solar panels can be orientated on any roof that faces south of either east or west.

Which direction do solar panels need to face. If you live in the usa or any other country in the northern hemisphere the best direction to face solar panels is south. In the northern hemisphere the general rule for solar panel placement is solar panels should face true south and in the southern true north. We can install panels on south east or west facing roofs. The most optimum direction to face your solar panels is somewhere between south and west.

North is the only direction that we don t want to put panels on. True south can also be calculated at noon when shadows from vertical objects run north south. Solar south or geographic south. Solar panels should face south for any home in america to obtain maximum power generation.

But in general there s one big rule. However each of the above only considers. It is at this location that your panels will receive the maximum sunlight throughout the day. The short answer is no.

However there is a difference between magnetic south and true south that must be considered. 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. 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. Since most sunlight comes from the south this will make your panels more productive.

Recently the new york times and popular science even purported that solar panels should face west rather than south to avoid unintended consequences. This is so that you can expose your solar panels to as much light as possible to optimize their energy production. If you re in australia or elsewhere in the southern hemisphere your solar panels should face north. The direction solar panels should face is true south a k a.

For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south. However if the local power company charges higher prices in the afternoon your panels should face west to maximize the dollar savings. Usually this is the best direction because solar panels will receive direct light throughout the day. 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.

Therefore directions like southwest or southeast are fine.