In the uk the optimum roof pitch for solar panels is 30 to 40 degrees.
Best roof angle for solar panels uk.
However pitch angles between 30 and 45 degrees will work well in most situations.
This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere.
On the contrary in the countries of the southern hemisphere such as south africa and australia the best orientation is true north.
This is due to the fact that the angle of the sun is 50 to 60 degrees which when combined with a 30 to 40 degree roof pitch creates a 90 degree angle.
A photovoltaic solar panel will generate the most electricity when solar radiation hits it directly i e.
Providing the highest level of solar radiation.
For the far south of england the optimal roof angle would be closer to 30 degrees.
Shade will also affect your output regardless of the orientation or elevation.
If your latitude is between 25 and 50 then the best tilt angle for summer is the latitude times 0 93 minus 21 degrees.
The optimum angle varies throughout the year depending on the seasons and your location and this calculator shows the difference in sun.
The following table gives the best dates on which to adjust.
Solar city may be able to explain why 40 degrees is your optimum installation angle if you ask him nicely.
A typical two storey house roof in the uk ha a roof elevation of around 30º 40º although there are exceptions.
The sun s rays are hitting the panel perpendicularly i e.
Ideally a fixed roof mounted solar energy system should be at an angle that is equal to the latitude of the location where it is installed.
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.
In the far north of scotland your panels would perform better if your roof angle was 40 degrees.
Overall the angle of your rooftop has less impact on solar panel performance than the direction your roof faces.
If your latitude is outside this range see other situationsbelow.
As the sun appears to move across the sky from east to west through the day and it appears to move up and then down in the sky as well an optimum fixed mounting position must be found for a.
To get the best out of your photovoltaic panels you need to angle them towards the sun.
At a 90 degree angle face on.
For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south.
Since solar panels are more productive when the sun s rays are perpendicular to their surfaces the certainly best orientation is the one directly true south azimuth angle 180.
Orientation of the panels.
So let s just say that you really don t want your panels being shaded.
Your panels need to be installed at an angle to optimise generation in these months when the sun is more intense and higher in the sky.
The effect of shading on solar panels shading is a big problem for solar photovoltaic panels.
Pv panels output will drop off beyond these figures.