Overall, facing solar panels south is the best option. In almost all circumstances, placing your solar panels south over any other direction will result in the largest electric bill savings and the shortest payback period.
The economics of solar are improved by facing your panels south in three ways: it optimizes solar production, it maximizes your ability to use net metering, and it maximizes your ability to use battery storage.
South is best direction to maximize solar panel output
Solar panels facing south in the Northern Hemisphere, where the United States is located, will produce the most amount of electricity conceivable.
This is due to the fact that the sun shines straight over the Equator on average throughout the year. If you’re north of the Equator, gazing south will optimize your sunshine exposure. In fact, the Sun passes across the southern half of the sky all year in all places north of the Tropic of Cancer (23.4N Latitude), which covers the whole mainland United States.
In other words, solar panels facing south in the United States will be exposed to the sun throughout the year.
During the summer solstice, the sun’s path goes directly over the Tropic of Cancer, which is roughly 23.5 north of the Equator (June 21). Because the entire continental United States is north of the Tropic of Cancer, the sun shines on us all year.
Why do solar panels in India face south?
Customers in India are now prepared to take the “Solar leap.” With all of the information available on the internet, they are in an excellent position to research, read, and enquire about solar panels. They are willing to pay the required price for a solar panel after they have been persuaded. However, they entirely overlook the mounting framework in all of their study. A mounting structure, like the trunk of a tree, is the substantial foundation or base of a solar system that supports the solar panel. The entire system will fail if the foundation is weak.
1. The angle
The tilt angle of your solar panel (the angle between the horizontal ground and the solar module) should be determined by the latitude of your location. It is often assumed that modules positioned at a tilt angle equal to the latitude of the location will produce the most energy. A solar tracker can also be used to improve conversion efficiency. Angle Pro is a software that may be used to examine the angular direction of your installation.
2. Guidance
The performance of solar panels is determined by the direction in which they are installed. The optimum direction for solar panels to face is south, because this is where they will receive the most sunshine. Directions to the east and west are also effective. The only direction in which we should not place our panels is north.
3. Geographical location
The quantity of sunlight received by different areas on the map varies. It’s crucial to double-check your latitudinal and longitudinal positions before starting the installation. You can also check your location with the Maps of India app.
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Orissa (Zone 3) 18-240
4. The Shadow Zone
Before constructing your mounting structure and maximizing the solar panel’s functionality, check for any shadow areas, tree shade, impediments, and so on.
5. Installation surface – Make sure the installation surface is solid and smooth to support the system’s weight.
While a mounting structure may appear to be nothing more than a steel framework, it contains specific intricacies that only a solar panel manufacturer will understand and implement. You will not be able to effectively create a solar panel unless you are an expert in analyzing the entire structure and operation of one and instructing the blacksmith accordingly.
I Recognizing the structure of the stand – A blacksmith is unlikely to recognize the location of holes and the height of the mounting structure’s legs. A solar business, on the other hand, can create a stand that meets the needs of the solar panels.
ii) Different panels require different supports – A solar panel manufacturer is familiar with the specifications of solar panels and can consequently adapt the height, weight, and length of the mounting structure, which a blacksmith would be unable to do.
iii) Purchase and installation – If you buy a mounting structure from a solar panel manufacturer, it will also install it for you. The company’s representative will be responsible for ensuring that the mounting structure and the panel atop it are installed safely and securely. Before leaving your house, he will also put it to the test for you.
iv) Consultation – Because he has the necessary expertise to decide on the latitudinal and longitudinal position, as well as check for the shadow region, a company’s representative will be better positioned to take the customer through the installation area. He will make certain that the structure is installed in a specific location so that the customer can get the most out of his solar panels.
We’re using a single panel 120W solar panel with a single panel solar stand in this installation. Let’s have a look at a step-by-step guide:
The first step in installing the panels on the mounting framework is to secure the stand and tightly screw in the fixtures on the ground.
The next step is to attach the lengthy channels to the mounting structure’s stand/legs.
To get to the correct position, the holes in the channels must match the ones on the legs.
Using a key, tighten the nut and bolts on the solar panels and the legs of the mounting framework.
Place bricks, big cans, or cement slabs around the mounting structure’s legs to secure the entire stand.
This portable stand can hold one solar panel of any brand with a power output of 40 to 180 watts. It may be installed on your home’s rooftop with ease. This galvanized iron stand is rust proof, has a life expectancy of more than 25 years, and comes with a one-year warranty. This stand weighs 5 kg and measures 9.8 feet long by 4.4 feet broad at a 25-degree angle.
This portable stand can hold two solar panels ranging in power from 100 to 180 watts from any brand. It may be installed on your home’s rooftop with ease. This galvanized iron stand is rust proof, has a life expectancy of more than 25 years, and comes with a one-year warranty. This stand weighs 15 kg and measures 9.8 feet long by 4.4 feet broad at a 25-degree angle.
This portable stand can hold one solar panel of any brand with a power output of 320 W to 360 W. It may be installed on your home’s rooftop with ease. This galvanized iron stand is rust proof, has a life expectancy of more than 25 years, and comes with a one-year warranty. This stand weighs 5 kg and measures 9.8 feet long by 4.4 feet broad at a 25-degree angle.
This portable stand can hold two or three solar panels of any brand ranging from 320 to 360 watts, or three solar panels of any brand ranging from 100 to 180 watts.
It may be installed on your home’s rooftop with ease. This galvanized iron stand is rust proof, has a life expectancy of more than 25 years, and comes with a one-year warranty. This stand weighs 8 kg and measures 13 feet long by 6.5 feet broad at a 25-degree inclination.
Which direction is the optimum for a solar panel to face?
So, what is the ideal solar panel orientation? The rule of thumb for homeowners in the Northern Hemisphere is that solar panels should be placed toward true south. (Those in the Southern Hemisphere should align their solar panels with true north.)
Because solar panels receive direct sunshine throughout the day, this is the optimal position.
It’s also worth mentioning that solar panels work best when the sun’s rays hit them straight on. This true south/true north orientation can be beneficial, but angle is also important in this parameter.
Should solar panels face south or north?
The study discovered that solar-powered homes use less than half the amount of utility-provided electricity as conventional homes. However, they consume more from around 4 p.m. to midnight, contributing to the system’s peak demand, which occurs around 5 p.m.
When panels are pointed west, they produce 55 percent of their highest production in the hour beginning at 5 p.m. As a result, a 10-kilowatt system will produce 5.5 kilowatts. However, if you position them south to maximize total output, they only produce 15% of their peak power, or 1.5 kilowatts, when the electric grid most needs it.
Why aren’t all the panels pointing west? Because the roof is facing south, some homeowners have their panels facing south. While some solar panel owners receive time-of-use rates and are compensated by the utility in proportion to wholesale electric grid prices, many panel owners are unable to benefit from the higher value of electricity during peak hours because they are paid a flat rate, according to the energy analysts. As a result, the payment mechanism incentivizes the homeowner to commit fraud. The California Energy Commission recently announced a $500 premium for new west-facing installations. According to the study’s authors, a new solar installation is finished every 3.2 minutes.
Solar panels do not have to be aimed in one direction; instead, a tracker may be purchased that will pivot them like a sunflower during the day, ensuring that they constantly face the sun. A tracker can boost a panel’s output by 45 percent. However, installing trackers can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, and buying a few extra panels may be a more cost-effective way to acquire the same amount of kilowatt-hours.
When solar panels can be installed on the south side of a roof, why would we want to do so?
South is the optimum direction for solar panels. This is because in the northern hemisphere, the sun is constantly in the southern half of the sky, and facing south provides the most direct solar exposure.
Is it possible to put solar panels facing west?
It’s a fact: the orientation of your roof has an impact on the amount of energy solar panels can generate. Even yet, there’s no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” hard and fast guideline for solar panel arrangement. South-facing solar panels receive the most direct sunshine throughout the year for homes in the northern hemisphere. A south-facing roof, on the other hand, is not required for a productive and financially successful solar power system.
Even if your rooftop solar power system faces east or west, it can still meet your energy needs, especially if it’s paired with a home battery backup system. The orientation of solar panels is one of the parameters that influence the viability of rooftop solar. Here’s how roof orientation affects your home’s ability to generate clean, renewable energy.
Is it possible for solar panels to face north?
A solar panel should ideally face true south in order to generate the greatest power. Roofs facing south-west and south-east are likewise considered highly efficient, but homes facing east or west lose about 15% of their efficiency compared to a south facing roof. In general, a north-facing roof is not recommended. Although most properties with a north facing roof will also have an opposite roof face, the layout of the building may prevent this.
Solar electricity can still be harnessed in buildings with a north-facing roof. Panels can be pitched against the roof’s slope, although this will detract from the roofline’s aesthetic appearance. Panels can also be put at ground level, although this requires avoiding places with a lot of shade.
Even a minor deviation from true north may be sufficient to assure efficient solar panels.
Why are solar panels oriented north?
Installing solar panels facing the wrong direction produces roughly 28% less energy than installing solar panels facing the right direction. Because Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, the sun goes northward. As a result, north-facing panels will produce the most solar energy.
What is the best way to approach a house?
The actual amount and proportions of glazing you choose will depend on a number of factors, including:
the thermal efficiency of windows and window frames, especially in older homes
It’s also worth thinking about the type of glazing, as well as the amount and positioning of windows. Consider fewer or smaller picture windows that frame the vista if you want south-facing windows to capture the view.
Consider upgrading to windows that are better than double glazing if you are building a new home. If you’re renovating, be sure that any windows you replace have at least double glazing. Frames are just as crucial as panes, so keep that in mind. Consider paying a little more for thermally broken or high performance window frames when choosing your window frames; these will greatly minimize (or even eliminate) window condensation, meaning you won’t have to wipe down your windows or repaint your window sills as often.
Since the 1950s, architectural changes in residential architecture have resulted in larger windows and more of them. In the summer, larger windows let in more heat, and in the cold, they let out more heat. The size and placement of windows should be carefully considered bigger isn’t necessarily better.
Your home’s primary living areas (or other rooms you use frequently) should face north to take advantage of the sun’s warmth and natural light. The house’s principal glazing, such as windows and glass doors, should face north as well. True north is anywhere between 20W and 30E.
When the sun is at its zenith, it is at its hottest. As a result, make sure the eaves over northern windows are wide enough to keep the sun out in the summer but not so wide that it keeps the sun out in the winter.
With the trend toward larger, floor-to-ceiling windows, overheating and glare are becoming more of a problem in New Zealand homes.
Because of the potential for glare and overheating from late afternoon sun, you’ll want less windows facing west especially in hot, still summer conditions and if you’re not home during the day.
East-facing glazing captures morning sun and can be customized for light, heat management, and ventilation in the summer. Glazing location must be carefully studied to reduce glare on working surfaces, especially if there is an east-facing kitchen or study that is utilized first thing in the morning.
South-facing windows receive very little sunlight and should be kept modest to reduce heat loss while yet allowing for diffused or reflected light and air.
Request that your designer do a thermal simulation of your home design to determine the best amount and placement of glazing. This will aid in the prevention of overheating in the summer and the reduction of heat loss in the winter.
Even if your home does not face north, north-facing windows can be installed.
How do you determine a solar panel’s true south?
When the sun is at its highest point, true south can be found. This time of day is also known as “solar noon” because it occurs about 12 p.m. Using a few scientific and ingenious approaches, you can discover real south during this period.
By compass
True south follows the Earth’s axis rather than its magnetic poles. The Earth’s polarity, due to its tilted rotation, will lead a compass to point toward a magnetic North or South Pole that is many degrees off its axis. So, unless you know your magnetic declination, a compass will be useless in establishing true south.
Magnetic declination
Learning your location’s magnetic declination is the most precise approach to ascertain true south in regard to your home or company. To calculate true south, you’d need to know your latitude and longitude and utilize a compass. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) now provides a website that can help you with this.
Find your shadow
Observing the direction your shadow points at solar noon is a great approach to rapidly compute true south. On a cloudy day, finding true south may be difficult; however, your expert solar power installer should be able to do so for you.
Is it better to have solar panels facing south or west?
The conventional idea is that solar panels should face south. This is because, while we complete our yearly orbit around the sun in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun is always in the southern region of the sky. As a result, the current best practice has always been to arrange solar panels facing south in order to gather the most amount of sunlight possible.
In the solar industry, it’s common knowledge that these south-facing panels should be angled between 30 and 40 degrees. This angle fluctuates and is roughly equivalent to your home’s latitude (how far north you are in relation to the equator).
This angle specificity is intended to ensure that sunlight strikes panels at a perpendicular angle, which provides the most energy. In the northern hemisphere, an angle along these lines also makes it easier for snow to slide off solar panels during the winter.
Some rooftops slope almost perfectly, allowing installers to mount the panels snugly against them while maintaining a fantastic angle for capturing the sun’s energy. Some rooftops are steeper than others, while others are level. There are many mounting techniques to help place your solar modules so that they can produce at their best, depending on the sort of roof you have.