Solar Panel Mounting Angle
Solar Panel Mounting Angle
Find out how to position a solar panel to maximise power output
solar | educationA
photovoltaic solar panel will generate the most electricity when solar radiation hits it directly - i.e. the sun's rays are hitting the panel at a 90 degree angle. 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 solar array to collect the maximum amount of energy possible.
Mounting Direction for Solar Panels
When the sun is low in the sky,
solar radiation has to pass through a lot more of the atmosphere than when the sun is at its highest in the sky at midday. Therefore in the Northern Hemisphere, solar panels should face to the South where the sun is found at midday. Similarly in the Southern Hemisphere, solar panels should face to the North.
Mounting Angle for Solar Panels
In general photovoltaic
solar panels should be mounted at an
angle of 10 to 15 degrees plus the site’s latitude. Therefore in London, which has a latitude of around 51 degrees, solar panels should ideally be mounted at an angle of approximately 65 degrees.
Seasonal Adjustment and Tracking
For all locations outside the tropics, if the panels are not fitted to a roof and cannot be moved, it is possible to greatly increase total annual power generation by adjusting the
solar panel mounting angle through the seasons so that it is steeper during the winter when the sun is low in the sky, and more shallow during the summer when the sun is relatively high in the sky.
A
solar tracker is a device which swings solar panels so that they follow the sun’s apparent motion across the sky during the day - either in one dimension from east to west, or in two dimensions from east to west and up and down. This can increase daily power output by as much as
30%, but it introduces mechanical components to the system which are liable to fail and require maintenance and it can also add considerable cost.
It normally does not make financial sense to use solar tracking with solar systems with a rated power output in excess of a few hundred Watts. Click here for more information on
solar tracking, and here for details of a
simple solar tracking concept.
Article Last Modified: 11:22, 23rd Feb 2011Comment on this Article
If you have any comments on this article, please email them to
neil@reuk.co.uk.
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