Solar Panel Tilt Angle Efficiency

For instance in the san francisco bay area the best solar panel tilt angle is between 22 23 degrees.

Solar panel tilt angle efficiency.

If you are able to adjust the angle of your solar panels a few times per year here is the adjustment schedule we recommend. The result for chicago is 90 42 23 25. Orienting the pv panel in a direction and tilt to maximize its exposure to direct sunlight will optimize the collection efficiency. Tilt the panels to your latitude minus 15.

In order to collect energy more efficiently solar panels should be angled to face as close to the sun as possible. Most solar arrays are installed at a tilt. The effect of an array s tilt angle on solar pv energy output may be up to 20 compared to that of flat installations. A comparison of data in two us cities has been completed to exhibit the importance of a solar pv array s tilt angle.

To calculate multiply your latitude by 0 9 and add 30 degrees. The tilt angle has the biggest effect on the efficiency of the solar panel. 40 x 9 30 66 degrees tilt from horizontal. See below for a list of cities and their latitudes.

The angle of the sun in relationship to the angle of the solar panel determines the maximum power density. Tilt the panels to your latitude. Tilt the panels to your latitude plus 15. The tilt should be designed so that the panel points directly at the sun at noon.

New york is at 40 degrees. To get maximum energy efficiency during the winter solstice the solar panels in chicago must face south and be tilted 65 90 25. Tilt the panels to your latitude. For los angeles a solar panel tilt of 19 degrees works the best.

When the angle of the sun is perpendicular to the solar panel it provides the maximum energy output. In this way at noon the panels will be perfectly perpendicular to the sun s rays. It turns out that you can do better than this about 4 better. These angles will give you the best overall output over the course of the year if you re going for a fixed installation.