If you’re either looking to install your own solar panels or just wondering how they work, you need to know what the best angle is for them.

The angle of your solar panels is important because it will affect how much sun they get during the day.

If the angle is too shallow, the sun will only hit the panels for a few hours a day and if it’s too steep, the sun will be hitting them all day but not as directly.

There are a few things you need to take into account when you’re trying to calculate the best angle for your solar panels:

  • The latitude of your location
  • The time of year
  • The time of day

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to calculate the best angle for your solar panels:

What Is The Best Angle For Solar Panels?

First things first. Ideally, what angle should solar panels be mounted?

The optimum tilt angle is the sum of your latitude plus 15 degrees in the winter and minus 15 degrees in the summer.

For example, if your latitude is 34°, adding 15 degrees to it yields a winter optimum tilt angle of 49°.

Related: Solar Advantages And Disadvantages

The solar panel tilt mechanism

Whether you are fitting the solar panels yourself or having them installed, you will need to take into account the fact that the optimum tilt angle changes throughout the year.

Solar panels are most efficient when they are perpendicular to the sun’s rays, but as the sun moves across the sky, so does the angle at which your solar panel needs to be tilted in order to be perpendicular to the sun’s rays.

A solar tilt mechanism is a bracket used on both roof and ground mounted solar systems to change the angle of the panels to match the changing seasons.

There are two main types of tilt mechanisms:

  • Fixed
  • Adjustable

Fixed

Fixed tilt mechanisms are set at a specific angle and cannot be adjusted. The most common angles used for fixed tilt systems are 30, 45 and 60 degrees.

The angle you choose will be determined by your latitude, the time of year and the time of day.

Adjustable

As the name suggests, adjustable tilt mechanisms allow you to change the angle of your solar panels to match the changing seasonal angle of the sun.

The most common type of adjustable tilt mechanism is a roof-mounted tracking system.

This system uses sensors to track the position of the sun and adjusts the angle of the panels throughout the day to ensure they are always perpendicular to the sun’s rays.

How Is The Solar Panel Angle Measured?

The tilt angle of the solar panel is calculated using the latitude value. If the latitude value is less than 25, it is multiplied by 0.87 and rounded to 3.1 degrees added to the result.

What Is An Azimuth Angle?

An azimuth angle is the compass direction that the solar panel is facing. The azimuth angle is measured in degrees, with 0 degrees being due north, 90 degrees being due east, 180 degrees being due south and 270 degrees being due west.

To calculate the azimuth angle, you need to know the latitude and longitude of your location and the time of year.

The latitude is used to calculate the angle of the sun in the sky, and the longitude is used to calculate the time difference between your location and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Is the Azimuth angle used with tilting solar panels?

Yes, the azimuth angle is one of the factors that determines the tilt angle of the solar panel.

The latitude is used to calculate the angle of the sun in the sky, and the longitude is used to calculate the time difference between your location and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

The azimuth angle is also used to calculate the angle of the sun in the sky.

To calculate the azimuth angle, you need to know the latitude and longitude of your location and the time of year.

Why Is The Tilt Of The Panels So Important?

It’s important to note that, while the panels are set up in a way that maximizes energy production when the sun is directly perpendicular to them, their tilt is crucial since they’ll produce the most energy when sunlight is parallel to them.

For example, during the winter in the northern hemisphere, when sunlight is lower on the horizon relative to where it is during the summer, panels should be tilted more to the south so that they’re still perpendicular to sunlight when it’s at its lowest point.

It also helps eliminate solar panel angle efficiency loss due to shading from buildings, trees, and other objects.

Solar Panel Angle By Location

The location of where your solar panels are installed will also play a role in the angle that they need to be tilted.

If you live in the northern hemisphere, your panels will need to be tilted more towards the south than if you lived in the southern hemisphere.

This is because the sun is higher in the sky in the northern hemisphere than in the southern hemisphere.

Similarly, if you live closer to the equator, your panels will need to be tilted more towards the sun than if you lived further away from the equator.

This is because the sun is directly overhead at the equator, but it is not at other latitudes.

Solar Panel Angle By Postcode

When you are having your solar panels installed, the fitter will take into account the location of your property.

You can also input your postcode into our solar panel angle calculator to find out the ideal tilt for your panels.

Solar Panel Angle Snow

If you live in an area where it snows often, you may need to adjust the tilt of your panels so that they are not covered in snow.

This is because snow can reflect sunlight and cause the panels to produce less electricity.

You can use our solar panel angle calculator to find out the ideal tilt for your panels if you live in an area with heavy snowfall.

FAQs

What is the minimum roof pitch for solar panels?

A roof pitch angle of 30-40 degrees is ideal, but even if your roof slope is outside of this range, a PV system may still produce clean power effectively.

What if my roof isn’t big enough to hold all the solar panels I need?

If you have a smaller roof, or if your roof is not orientated in the best way to maximize sunlight exposure, then it’s still possible to install solar panels.
You can do this by installing them on the ground, on a carport, or on a wall.

When should I adjust my solar panels’ tilt?

If you can change the angle of your solar panels every few months. The tilt schedule advised is as follows: Spring: Tilt the panels to your latitude. Summer: Tilt the panels to your latitude minus 15°. Fall: Tilt the panels to your latitude.

Do solar panels work better at an angle?

Solar arrays are most often set at an angle that best benefits the area. The ideal angle for a solar panel installation on a typical home in the United States is roughly 30 to 45 degrees, somewhere between 30 and 45 degrees north of the equator (on a south-facing roof).

At what angle do solar panels stop working?

The general view is that if your solar panel angle is 10-15 degrees on either side of the optimum range, you’ll lose around 1-1.5% efficiency. As a result, generally, if your roof is sloped to any degree, you won’t lose much efficiency.

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Passionate about helping households transition to sustainable energy with helpful information and resources.

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