Best Orientation For Solar Panels In Southern Hemisphere

The sun s movements throughout the day.

Best orientation for solar panels in southern hemisphere.

The ideal direction that solar panels must face changes depending on whether you live in the northern hemisphere or the southern hemisphere. Generally speaking the panels should be facing towards the equator. The rule is that if you live in the southern hemisphere you should point your panels true north and if you live in the northern hemisphere you should point them true south. If the orientation is not optimal it does not matter whether you have the best angle for solar panels.

It is best to face the panels south as the sun is always in the south within the northern hemisphere. The direction solar panels face along with their angle or tilt at that orientation. Orientation south facing windows passive solar houses typically have windows on the southern side of the building. Are vital inputs in order to accurately calculate the solar power potential for a property.

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. However there is a difference between magnetic south and true south that must be considered. You could use tools if you wanted to but you can just as quickly figure it out with none at all. But not everyone has a perfectly oriented roof.

When your two best options are east or west which should you choose. As we have mentioned before in the southern hemisphere due north is usually the best orientation for panels. If your property is located in the northern hemisphere panels facing south will perform best. Based on the movements of the sun passive solar buildings typically have windows glazing on the southern facing side of the building in order to absorb the sun s heat energy to warm a building during the winter.

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. For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south. This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere.

Usually this is the best direction because solar panels will receive direct light throughout the day. In the northern hemisphere panels must face south and. However the electricity system is not as simple as it sometimes seems and the best direction to face solar panels may actually be west. Locating the best direction to point your solar panels can be accomplished very quickly.