Optimal Solar Panel Azimuth

There are two methods for calculating the tilt angle for solar panels.

Optimal solar panel azimuth.

Solar panels produce electricity when sunlight hits their surface and they produce the most energy when that sunlight is exactly perpendicular to the panel face. Azimuth is in the angle relative to map north where 0 is north 90 is west 180 is south and 270 is east. The optimum tilt angle for an azimuth tracking was 19 closer to vertical than for a fixed south facing panel. In the northern hemisphere between the latitudes of 23 and 90 the sun is always in the south.

Similarly you can calculate the angle for winter by adding 15. The compass angle shows 180 for south 90 for east and 270 for west. For example the azimuth is 90 if solar is in the due east it is 90 if solar is in due west. If you live in the northern hemisphere face them south.

On the contrary in the countries of the southern hemisphere such as south africa and australia the best orientation is true north. The azimuth is the angle of easy west south and north. Therefore the best angle for your solar panels is the one that allows the panels to get the most direct perpendicular light. In most of the solar pv energy calculator tools an azimuth value of zero is facing the equator in both northern and southern hemispheres.

If you are using a compass to orient your panels you need to correct for the difference which varies from place to place. The azimuth and tilt confirmation of solar panel is the one of important factors in the design of solar pv system. True north is not the same as magnetic north. Tilt is the vertical angle where a 0 tilt means that the panel is laying flat and a 90 tilt means that it s vertical.

In terms of solar pv system the due south of azimuth is 0 it is minus angle from south to east to north it is positive angle from south to west to north. Both of these angles require latitude degrees. Whatever your latitude is you can subtract 15 from it to calculate the angle for summer. 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.

Positive 90 degrees is facing due west negative 90 degrees is facing due east. Solar panels should always face true south if you are in the northern hemisphere or true north if you are in the southern hemisphere.