Do Solar Panels Need To Face The Sun

The direction that your solar panels face is ultimately dependent on whether or not your system is connected through net energy metering nem and under a time of use tou payment structure.

Do solar panels need to face the sun.

Ensuring that solar panels face the correct direction and have an appropriate tilt will help ensure that they produce maximum energy as they are exposed to the highest. Let s dig a little deeper to show how to determine true south and look at the best tilt angle for solar panels. In order to collect energy more efficiently solar panels should be angled to face as close to the sun as possible. 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.

A solar panel will harness the most power when the sun s rays hit its surface perpendicularly. The sun moves from east to west during the day and is higher or lower in the sky depending on the season lower in winter higher in summer. The more sunlight reaches your solar panels the more electricity you can generate and the more money you ll be able to save on your electric bill. No but all solar panels perform best when the sun is at its best and that is in the summer.

It is at this location that your panels will receive the maximum sunlight throughout the day. When in fact solar panels need light not heat. Yes so long as the size and power of the solar panel is relative to the thing it needs to power. However each of the above only considers.

If your roof does not face the right direction then surface mounted panels or pole mounted panels may be. The placement and orientation of solar panels is just as important as which type of solar panel is used in a given situation. 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. Calculating the ideal angle for your solar panels is not that difficult.

So do solar panels work when there is no sun. Take solar lights for an example. Net energy metering and time of use. Best direction for my panels.

Solar panels perform at their best when the sun is shining straight on to the panels. If your panels face south they ll receive light throughout the day. There is still a wide misconception solar panels need heat to make energy. Since the majority of solar panel owners keep their system on the grid we can split this grouping into simply those who pay for energy based on a tou payment.

The most optimum direction to face your solar panels is somewhere between south and west. When the sun shines onto the surface at an angle the panel will still generate electricity but it will be less effective.