If you’re considering installing solar panels on your home, understanding proper placement is key to maximizing your energy efficiency and savings. Solar panel placement directly impacts how much electricity you’ll generate daily. By optimizing solar panel direction and angle, you can increase energy production by 10-25% compared to poorly positioned systems.
Why Do Solar Panel Direction and Angle Matter?
Solar panel positioning is critical because the angle at which the sun is hitting the array determines how much sunlight your panels can convert into electricity. Poor solar panel orientation means you’re losing potential energy every single day. Even small adjustments can significantly improve your system’s performance throughout the year, directly affecting your electricity bill and investment payback period.
What’s the Best Angle for Solar Panels?
The best angle for solar panels depends on your geographic latitude. The general rule: install panels at an angle equal to your latitude. For most U.S. regions, this means an angle between 30-40 degrees.
Angle of solar panels directly impacts performance. Panels installed at the optimal angle for solar panels receive maximum direct sunlight. A deviation of 10-15 degrees typically reduces efficiency by only 1-3%, but larger deviations can be problematic.
- Northern states (latitude 40-45°): ideal solar panel angle is 35-45 degrees
- Mid-latitudes (latitude 30-40°): optimal solar panel angle by latitude is 30-40 degrees
- Southern regions (latitude 25-30°): 25-35 degrees provide best results
Many homeowners use existing roof slopes, which often works well since typical best roof pitch for solar panels is 30-40 degrees—exactly what most regions need.
Yes! The optimum angle for solar panels shifts with seasons. In summer, the sun is higher, so a lower angle is better, while in winter, a steeper angle helps capture the lower sun. However, adjusting panels seasonally isn’t practical for most homeowners, so installing at an average annual best solar panel angle provides the best overall performance.
What’s the Best Direction for Solar Panels?
In the United States, south facing solar panels provide optimal performance. The best direction for solar panels to face is true south (not magnetic), which maximizes sun exposure throughout the day. Should solar panels face south? For American homeowners, the answer is almost always yes.
Direction for solar panels is even more important than angle. The best orientation for solar panels facing south can produce 20-30% more energy than those installed east or west. The best roof direction for solar panels is always southern, but east or west roof orientation and solar placements can still be effective, producing about 75-85% of a south-facing system’s energy.
Ready to maximize your solar investment? AllSeason Solar & Roofing in New Jersey will assess the best location for solar panels on roof and optimize the best angle and direction for solar panels for your home. Contact us today for a free consultation and start saving on energy costs!
