Best Orientation For Solar Panels In Australia

The two factors that such an angle is controlled by are the orientation north south east west and the angle of the panels from the surface of the earth.

Best orientation for solar panels in australia.

Therefore directions like southwest or southeast are fine. In the northern hemisphere the general rule for solar panel placement is solar panels should face true south and in the southern true north. This maximizes the amount of energy striking the panels and being produced. The ideal angle for solar panels in australia is usually equal to the latitude angle of the location of the property.

Panels mounted on a standard pitch roof facing east or west will produce approximately 15 less output than panels mounted on a south facing roof of a standard pitch. Microinverters and power optimisers are tiny devices attached to each solar panel. Some can only cope with solar panels facing in one direction but inverters that can handle two directions are now common. Since most of the sun in the southern hemisphere comes at us from the north the ideal orientation for solar panels in australia is as close to true north as possible.

While this is not a bad direction it is often possible to get a very small boost by having them face slightly away from due north. Even small deviations from this direction can reduce a system s efficiency by as much as 15 so this is an important consideration. Optimal orientation for solar panels in australian capitals. The effect of orientation on solar output.

The direction solar panels should ideally face for optimum sun exposure varies depending on location. The ideal situation is when the sun is hitting the panels at a perfectly perpendicular angle 90. This means that for best results the roof pitch of your property should ideally be equal to the latitude angle with the panels mounted at the same angle as the roof. For example if you reside in sydney a roof pitch of 34 would be considered ideal as this is equal to the latitude angle 33 86 of the nsw capital.

The most common sort in australia are string inverters. Usually this is the best direction because solar panels will receive direct light throughout the day. If your property is located in the northern hemisphere panels facing south will perform best. For australia solar power yields are higher when panels face north.

However solar panels can be orientated on any roof that faces south of either east or west.