Efficiency Of Solar Panels At Different Angles

The solar panel angle can affect the amount of solar electricity you generate and is based on two factors.

Efficiency of solar panels at different angles.

If it s standing upright perpendicular to the ground it is at a 90 angle. Solar panel angle is another way of describing the vertical tilt of your pv system. The optimum tilt angle is calculated by adding 15 degrees to your latitude during winter and subtracting 15 degrees from your latitude during summer. The summer optimum tilt angle on the other hand will be 34 15 19.

Solar panels have been consistently increasing in efficiency at about 5 annually since 2010. This is because the average intensity of the light incident on a flat surface area decreases as the angle decreases from 90 degrees. A comparison of data in two us cities has been completed to exhibit the importance of a solar pv array s tilt angle. When a solar system is level with the ground it has no tilt.

For instance if your latitude is 34 the optimum tilt angle for your solar panels during winter will be 34 15 49. If you have the option to place the panels in more of a north east or north west direction it is recommended. Factors that affect solar panel efficiency. The highest efficiency solar panels on the market today can reach almost 23 percent efficiency.

You can visualize this by shining a flashlight on a piece of paper. As the angle of the sunlight on a solar panel deviates from the perpendicular the solar panel power output decreases.