The effect of orientation on solar output.
Best direction for solar panels sydney.
Solar panels in australia work best when they re facing north pointed directly at the sun at an optimal angle and not blocked by trees or shading.
In sydney south facing solar panels will typically produce around 28 less energy than north facing.
This means that for best results the roof pitch of your property should ideally be equal to the latitude angle with the panels mounted at the same angle as the roof.
Of course most people don t get to decide which direction they face their solar panels.
So to help people decide what is the best direction to face their panels for all the australian capitals i ll describe.
What s the best direction to set your solar orientation.
Is it better to install your panels split between east and west or is north the better orientation to face solar panels in brisbane.
Ground mounted solar panels can even be placed on trackers which adjust the position of the panels throughout the year in order to maximize the amount of sunlight reaching them.
The best panel direction to maximise self consumption of solar electricity will depend upon a household s electricity usage patterns.
The ideal angle for solar panels in australia is usually equal to the latitude angle of the location of the property.
32 degrees for sydney.
It s determined by the shape of their roof.
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.
In general there s one big rule.
For australia solar power yields are higher when panels face north in fact all southern hemisphere locations should ideally position panels in a northerly direction.
For homes or businesses with heavy summertime cooling loads the panels can be tilted at latitude minus 10 degrees e g.
The direction solar panels should ideally face for optimum sun exposure varies depending on location.
Solar panels to suit a very hot climate some panels have better temperature tolerance than others look for a lower temperature coefficient and are therefore a better choice in hot climates.
For example if you reside in sydney a roof.
If you re in the u s.
In this post we ll discuss what the answer has commonly been and the logic behind it.
Or elsewhere in the northern hemisphere the best direction for solar panels to face is true south though there is an exception.
Best practice for a standard grid connected solar system is to tilt the panels in accordance to the latitude of the location of the roof e g.
If ground or wall mounted panels don t work for you solar panels can also be mounted on a building near your house like your garage or a storage shed.