Solar Panel Tilt Equation

If you are able to adjust the angle of your solar panels a few times per year here is the adjustment schedule we recommend.

Solar panel tilt equation.

To calculate multiply your latitude by 0 9 and add 30 degrees. 2φ cos2φ 1 where φ latitude δ solar declination angle h hour angle and β optimal tilt angle. 40 x 9 30 66 degrees tilt from horizontal. Tilt the panels to your latitude plus 15.

The result for chicago is 90 42 23 25. If your solar panels will have a fixed tilt angle and you want to get the most energy over the whole year then this section is for you. A fixed angle is convenient but note that there are some disadvantages. The tilt is 0 if solar panel parallel to horizon to design the tilt is 90 if the solar panel is vertical to design.

The tilt should be designed so that the panel points directly at the sun at noon. The decision of azimuth. Tilt the panels to your latitude. In this method the optimum tilt angle for solar panels during winter is calculated by multiplying the latitude by 0 9 and then adding 29.

To get maximum energy efficiency during the winter solstice the solar panels in chicago must face south and be tilted 65 90 25. As mentioned above you ll get less power than if you adjusted the angle. In the above case example of a latitude of 34 the tilt angle will be 34 0 9 29 59 6. Tilt the panels to your latitude minus 15.

The three curves are the incident solar insolation the horizontal solar insolation and the solar insolation on a titled surface as defined in the page module tilt. The average daily solar insolation as a function of latitude. There s a simple rule of thumb for calculating the best tilt angle for fixed mount solar panels. See below for a list of cities and their latitudes.

In this way at noon the panels will be perfectly perpendicular to the sun s rays. This solar angle calculator tells you the optimum angle to get the best out of your system. The optimum angle varies throughout the year depending on the seasons and your location and this calculator shows the difference in sun height on a month by month. Each zenith angle is then corrected for the air s refraction according to snell s law with θ arcsin sinθ r forθ.

Zair z air zπ2 θθθ 2forθ. Zair z crit ππ z2 where θ. In china usually the azimuth of solar panel is orienting due south to guarantee the maximum power generation from solar. Subtract 15 degrees from the latitude at your location during summer and add 15 degrees to your latitude during winter.