Best Angle For Solar Panels In Winter

Calculating the optimal solar panel angle.

Best angle for solar panels in winter.

As a rule of thumb solar panels should be more vertical during winter to gain most of the low winter sun and more tilted during summer to maximize the output. Solar panels with a fixed tilt angle. As a general rule of thumb keep in mind that the panels need to be more vertical during winter to face the lower sun directly and more tilted towards the ground during summer to face the higher sun. Here two simple methods for calculating approximate solar panel angle according to your latitude.

Solar panels on a shallow roof capture more sunlight during the summer season whereas solar panels on a steep roof will produce more power during the winter. While the sun is in a higher position in the sky during the summer and lower position during the winter it has an average position right in between the two seasons. In 2015 the northern alberta institute of technology nait completed a 3 year long side by side study comparing snow covered panel performance with snow cleared panel performance. At some places as much as a vertical tilt of the panels is needed to get the maximum output during wintertime.

Therefore the best angle for your solar panels is the one that allows the panels to get the most direct perpendicular light. Calculating the ideal angle for your solar panels is not that difficult. During winter the sun is lower and to catch more of its light the best solar panel angle would be more tilted. Optimum angle differs during winter months.

While you can use solar panel trackers to keep them at the optimum angle at all times the costs and complications involved aren t worth it in most cases. If your solar panels will have a fixed tilt angle and you want to get the most energy over the whole year then this section is for you. If you want to improve your winter performance you would angle your photovoltaic panels towards the winter months in order to get the best performance at that time of year. For example if you are seeking to maximise solar generation during winter months be it for an off grid system or higher energy consumption levels you would ideally want to angle your panels at a greater tilt for maximum exposure to the low winter sun.

In this way at noon the panels will be perfectly perpendicular to the sun s rays. To get maximum energy efficiency during the winter solstice the solar panels in chicago must face south and be tilted 65 90 25. The violet line is the solar energy per day if the panel is fixed at the winter angle discussed below these figures are calculated for 40 latitude.