In order to collect energy more efficiently solar panels should be angled to face as close to the sun as possible.
Solar panel angle of incidence efficiency.
A comparison of data in two us cities has been completed to exhibit the importance of a solar pv array s tilt angle.
Solar array tilt angle and energy output the effect of an array s tilt angle on solar pv energy output may be up to 20 compared to that of flat installations.
Books and articles on solar energy often give the advice that the tilt should be equal to your latitude plus 15 degrees in winter or minus 15 degrees in summer.
Tilt the panels to your latitude.
This is the most important angle.
This is the angle between the line that points to the sun and the angle that points straight out of a pv panel also called the line that is normal to the surface of the panel.
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 next question is at what angle from horizontal should the panels be tilted.
The solar cell produces maximum output power for given sunlight when the angle of the light and the cell are perpendicular to each other i e.
Tested solar cell point light source eln lamp pv module 423.
Tilt the panels to your latitude plus 15.
White background 10 soiled black background module technology measured angle of incidence dependence vs cosine model 0 30 60 90 angle of incidence 10 deg reflection loss dependence on angle of incidence r z to im do ule surface it from fresnel s law.
Tilt the panels to your latitude minus 15.
90 o as shown in figure 3.
Photovoltaics produce power when the angle at which the sun s rays hit the panel surface the angle of incidence is small or when light strikes the panel as close to perpendicular as possible.
Ir 1 tang 0 0.
An additional 3 5 though can be gained by evaluating this more carefully.
Solar panels should always face true south in the northern hemisphere north in the southern hemisphere tilted from the hoizontal at a degree equal to your latitude plus 15 degrees in winter or minus 15 degrees in summer.
It turns out that you can do better than this about 4 better.
Tilt the panels to your latitude.
Solar panels generate maximum power when they are positioned perpendicular to the sun so that the suns rays hits the panels on a 90 angle.