On the contrary in the countries of the southern hemisphere such as south africa and australia the best orientation is true north.
Optimal angle for solar panel install.
For the vast majority of u s.
For instance if your latitude is 34 the optimum tilt angle for your solar panels during winter will be 34 15 49.
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.
The optimum tilt angle is calculated by adding 15 degrees to your latitude during winter and subtracting 15 degrees from your latitude during summer.
During the spring the best angle is 45 and during the summer when the sun is high in the sky it s best to have a low tilt at 20.
At different times of the year the optimal angle may be slightly or even significantly different.
For a latitude over 50 the most ideal angle will end up being approximately 45 degrees.
Property owners the ideal angle for a solar panel installation is close or equal to the latitude of your home on a south facing roof.
In this case for the solar panels to get their best performance a steep angle of 60 is best.
For a latitude up to 25 take your latitude and multiply it by 0 87.
The summer optimum tilt angle on the other hand will be 34 15 19.
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.
Best solar panel angle by zip code.
For a latitude between 25 to 50 take your latitude multiply by 0 87 after that you will add 3 1 degrees.
Some who install them on their roofs are somewhat limited but if you have the luxury of choosing exactly how you want your system setup there are a few tricks you can use.
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.
Choosing the best angle and direction for your solar panels will optimize the amount of sunlight they receive and allow you to get the most out of your solar power system.
Overall the angle of your rooftop has less impact on solar panel performance than the direction your roof faces.
For instance in the san francisco bay area the best solar panel tilt angle is between 22 23 degrees.