Optimum Solar Panel Pitch

In the spring summer and autumn the efficiency is lower 74 75 in spring autumn and 68 74 in summer because in these seasons the sun travels a larger area of the sky and a fixed panel can t capture as much of it.

Optimum solar panel pitch.

You will most likely be installing the solar panels on your roof which is why you have to take into account the roof pitch too. However the panels can be installed anywhere between 10 to 35 deg with negligible efficiency loss. Many roofs are going to have slopes between 30 and 40 degrees which means that solar panels can lie flush against the roof and produce enough electricity for attractive returns. There are several factors in your control when it comes to finding the ideal pitch for your solar panels.

Well it depends based on the orientation and angle of the panels. Solar contractors recommend using the latitude of your home s location as the degree of tilt. Ideally a fixed roof mounted solar energy system should be at an angle that is equal to the latitude of the location where it is installed. However pitch angles between 30 and 45 degrees will work well in most situations.

To get the best out of your photovoltaic panels you need to angle them towards the sun. The orientation of the panels and the angle they are tilted will have a greater effect on annual energy production. 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. Most australian homes have a roof pitch of 20 to 30 which is considered optimum for maximizing solar power generation.

So what percentage of solar energy do you lose from not having panels mounted at the optimum angle. Generally if your roof pitch is anywhere between 10 15 either side of the latitude angle you will only lose between 1 1 5 of the maximum solar output possible at your location. Pitch perfect through a number of tests conducted by the solar energy society of alberta it was established that the ideal pitch to install solar panels was at latitude so 51 for calgary and 53 for edmonton. If you are trying to install solar panels on a steep roof it may not be possible to place panels at the optimal tilt with traditional racking systems.

For example the latitude of los angeles california is 34 degrees so the tilt of your solar panels would be 34 degrees. However the panels can be installed anywhere between 10 to 35 deg with negligible efficiency loss. The orientation of the panels and the angle they are tilted will have a greater effect on annual energy production. Overall the angle of your rooftop has less impact on solar panel performance than the direction your roof faces.

This particular angle generated the most energy from the test solar panels on a year round basis both with and without snow clearing. Most roofs have an inclination of 30 to 40 degrees. At this level the solar panel can lie flat on the roof and get enough sunlight to produce enough electricity.