Tilt the panels to your latitude.
Solar panel angle of incidence efficiency.
Photovoltaics produce power when the angle at which the sun s rays hit the panel surface the angle of incidence is small or when light strikes the panel as close to perpendicular as possible.
Utilizing solar panel trackers to maximize your solar system s performance.
Tilt the panels to your latitude minus 15.
In this way at noon the panels will be perfectly perpendicular to the sun s rays.
In order to collect energy more efficiently solar panels should be angled to face as close to the sun as possible.
Solar array tilt angle and energy output the effect of an array s tilt angle on solar pv energy output may be up to 20 compared to that of flat installations.
Axis trackers generate more electricity by using about the same amount of space as fixed systems.
This is the most important angle.
Books and articles on solar energy often give the advice that the tilt should be equal to your latitude plus 15 degrees in winter or minus 15 degrees in summer.
An additional 3 5 though can be gained by evaluating this more carefully.
Solar panel tracking systems can improve a system s output by ensuring constant direct exposure to the sun both during the day and across seasons.
The image below shows.
For los angeles a solar panel tilt of 19 degrees works the best.
The next question is at what angle from horizontal should the panels be tilted.
It turns out that you can do better than this about 4 better.
Tilt the panels to your latitude plus 15.
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.
Tilt the panels to your latitude.
If you are able to adjust the angle of your solar panels a few times per year here is the adjustment schedule we recommend.
These angles will give you the best overall output over the course of the year if you re going for a fixed installation.
Calculating minimum sun height at noon.
For instance in the san francisco bay area the best solar panel tilt angle is between 22 23 degrees.
To get the maximum energy efficiency during the summer solstice the solar panels in chicago must face south and be tilted 19 90 71.
