Which Direction Should Solar Panels Face In South Africa

Published on 05 31 2017 in.

Which direction should solar panels face in south africa.

True south can also be calculated at noon when shadows from vertical objects run north south. Generally it s common knowledge in the solar industry that these south facing panels should be tilted between a 30 and 40 degree angle. However the electricity system is not as simple as it sometimes seems and the best direction to face solar panels may actually be west. To make the most of the sun in south africa it is best to install on roofs that face north.

You can also mount facing north west or north east however this is less effective. This is measured on a case by case basis depending on the location. The direction solar panels should face is true south a k a. The climate and geographic area also affect the working ability of solar panels.

Joshua rhodes a postdoctoral research fellow in the webber energy group and the energy institute at the university. There are optimal conditions for solar panels south africa. What is the optimum angle to install on. The following is a guest post by dr.

This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere. Find out in about 60 seconds. This angle varies and is just about equal to the latitude of your home how far north you are in relation to the equator. While the angle of your solar panels is important a more important factor in your energy production is going to be the direction your panels face.

The pull or magnetic declination will vary in direction and strength depending on your location. Panels can be placed in multiple directions other than just an east west split. In the northern hemisphere the sun crosses the sky a little to the south which means putting solar panels on a south facing roof is the best way for homeowners to capture the most solar energy. To correct the compass reading your solar installer will calculate the magnetic declination of your site.

In darwin south facing panels only produce about 15 less electricity overall than north facing panels but as the northern territory still has a high feed in tariff the most cost effective direction to face solar modules is north. For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south. It is at this location that your panels will receive the maximum sunlight throughout the day. They function at their peak when they re pointed north facing the sun directly and at an angle that s not shadowed or sheltered by trees.

The conventional wisdom in the northern hemisphere is that the best direction to face solar panels is south since that is generally where they d receive the most sunlight. The most optimum direction to face your solar panels is somewhere between south and west.