Just as we find the need to cook at the right temperature or drive the most fuel-efficient route, getting the most out of our solar panels requires more than just pointing them in any sunny direction. In this article, I’ll guide you through the best orientation and angle for solar panels, how they affect energy production, and what you can do to make the most of your setup even if your roof isn’t perfectly positioned.
What Direction Should Solar Panels Face?
In terms of orientation, the best direction for solar panels is south. This position is considered optimal for regions in the northern hemisphere as it allows solar panels to capture direct, consistent, and intense sunlight for most of the day.
Think back to those globe models in school and recall how the Earth leans to one side – this tilt represents the Earth’s axis. If you shine a flashlight on the globe, you’ll notice the light (the sun) focuses more on one side, specifically the southern half of the sky.
This tilt explains why the sun appears to move across the southern part of the sky during the day, and hence, why south-facing panels tend to “see” the sun better than other directions. Let’s explore how orientation affects solar production in more detail.
How Orientation Impacts Solar Production
Orientation (also known as azimuth in some cases) refers to the direction your solar panels face, which is primarily north, south, east, or west. It could also be a combination of these primary directions (e.g. southwest, southeast), depending on the orientation of your roof.
To understand how orientation impacts production, let’s examine the four primary directions.
South Facing
As I mentioned earlier, south-facing panels are the gold standard for solar energy production in the northern hemisphere. This way, solar panels are aligned with the sun’s path, capturing sunlight for the longest period each day.
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) supports this. From the diagram above, south-facing panels generate more annual energy production compared to west- and east-facing by approximately 15%.
West Facing
West-facing panels aren’t far behind in terms of efficiency. In fact, an interesting study showed that south-facing panels slightly oriented a bit westward during the summer produced 40% more energy than panels facing directly south.
Still, west-facing panels generally don’t capture as much sunlight as south-facing ones do over the course of an entire day. However, they do benefit from prolonged exposure to intense afternoon sunlight.
This makes them an excellent choice for regions with peak energy hours starting as early as 12 noon (New York and Florida, for example).
If you live in such areas, west-facing panels can help offset your energy usage during these costly peak hours by generating more power in the afternoon – an effective way to reduce your electricity bills.
East Facing
East-facing panels generally produce less energy overall compared to south- or west-facing panels. They capture direct sunlight in the morning, but the duration of intense sunlight is shorter compared to the afternoon.
That said, they’re still a good option for settings with high early daytime energy needs. This might not apply to a typical household, but it surely does make a difference for commercial operations like factories, farms, and healthcare facilities.
Remember that solar panels work even without direct sunlight (I’ve touched on this in a previous article), which means that if you have panels perched on an east-facing roof, they would still generate energy in the afternoon.
North Facing
North-facing panels are considered the least ideal because, as I mentioned, the sun’s path is primarily in the southern sky, meaning these panels receive significantly less direct sunlight.
However, similar to east-facing panels, this doesn’t mean they won’t produce energy –just that their output will be lower. If your roof only supports a north-facing installation, there are workarounds you can consider, and we’ll get to that later on.
How Angle Affects Solar Production
The angle or tilt is basically how steeply your panels are angled relative to the ground. This angle affects how directly sunlight hits the panels.
Earlier, we discussed how the Earth is tilted on its axis. Tilting your solar panels is necessary to compensate for the Earth’s tilt, positioning them as close to a 90-degree angle with the sun as possible, so more sunlight can be absorbed directly.
A general rule of thumb is to tilt your panels at an angle equal to your home’s latitude.
For example, if you live in Utah, with a latitude of about 40°, your panels should be tilted at 40° as well. The further you deviate from the ideal angle, the less sunlight your panels will capture, and the less efficient they’ll be at generating energy.
Now, does this ideal tilt change? Yes it does, and it changes with the seasons.
In winter, when the sun is lower in the sky, a steeper tilt is more effective, while a shallower angle works better in the summer.
You won’t usually find panels that are completely vertical or entirely flat. Although interestingly, the same study I mentioned earlier found that even horizontal panels – those lying flat – can be surprisingly efficient under certain conditions.
However, it’s standard practice for certified solar installers to set the angle to a fixed position calculated to be the most optimal for your home’s energy needs throughout the year.
Which Matters More, Orientation or Angle?
Between orientation and angle, orientation has a slightly greater impact on energy production, and thus, matters more.
A well-tilted panel facing the wrong direction won’t perform as efficiently as a south- or west-facing panel with a suboptimal tilt.
Other Ways to Maximize Solar Production
Even if we know the best direction and angle our panels should face to maximize solar production, we’re ultimately limited by how our roofs are designed and oriented.
If you have a flat roof, you’re in luck, as you may have more flexibility to adjust the panels to the optimal position. The same goes for those with extra ground space to install ground-mounted panels.
The good news is that maximizing solar production is way more than just getting the perfect angle and direction.
Here are a few ways that I find are the most effective in helping you squeeze out more energy from your system.
Solar Battery
With roofs in different directions, some of your panels will peak in the morning (east-facing), while others peak in the afternoon (west-facing).
Instead of wasting that excess energy during low-consumption times, a solar battery allows you to store it for evening use, when everyone’s home and demand spikes.
Solar Panel Cleaning
Regardless of which direction your panels are facing, things like dirt, pollen, and bird droppings can accumulate and reduce your panels’ efficiency.
Consider cleaning your solar panels more often especially if you live in an area with wildlife or during pollen-heavy season.
Minimizing Shade
Even if your solar panels are perfectly positioned to face south, their efficiency can take a hit if obstructions like trees or buildings cast shadows over them for long periods.
And in many cases, you’re better off relocating the panels to a spot with more consistent sunlight, even if it’s not the ideal orientation.
For overhanging branches causing shade, you can simply trim them to let sunlight pass through.
But if relocating or trimming isn’t practical, consider pairing your panels with microinverters or power optimizers. This way, shaded panels won’t drag down the performance of your entire solar system.
There’s More to Solar Design Than Just Direction
By now, you know that getting the most out of your solar system involves more than just direction…
At Avail Solar, we take a detailed approach – considering panel efficiency, system size, and all the other factors we’ve discussed – to create a solar design that fits your home and energy needs.
Beyond that, we offer end-to-end services, guiding you from the planning stage through installation and ongoing support, to make your transition to solar as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Request a quote today and start saving with solar energy!