When you are looking for green power solutions for your home or office, solar panels are a great option for the same. These prove to be highly cost efficient as well as environmentally friendly in the long run. Although, one common issue with solar panels is that they are not highly reliable in terms of their power output. This essentially means that their power output is not constant and depends on various factors.
One such factor is the angle at which you have installed your solar panels since it will affect the total sunlight falling on your solar panels and thus the total power being produced by your solar panels. Hence, to help you with the same, we are here with a complete guide on calculating your solar panel angle. This guide includes every detail regarding solar panel angle and how you can find the right angle of your solar panel by going through this guide till the end.
What do you mean by Solar Panel Angle?
In case you are new to solar panels and not familiar with its angle and other details, you may want to learn more about the same. Thankfully, it is quite easy to understand the solar panel angle as it essentially tells you about the tilt of your solar panels.
This tilt simply tells you about the angle between the solar panel and the ground where a 0-degree angle is a flat laying solar panel and a 90-degree solar panel is a fully straight standing one. And while installing a solar panel, making sure that the tilt angle is correct is highly important to ensure that sunlight is falling properly on your solar panels.
This is due to the reason that if the sunlight is falling properly on your solar panels, they will function at their maximum efficiency for high power output.
How do you Find the Best Solar Panel Tilt for your Latitude?
Now that you know more about the solar panel angle and why choosing the right angle is important, you might be interested in finding the right angle for your solar panel as well. Fortunately, finding the right solar panel tilt or angle is quite easy since it depends on your latitude.
This is due to the reason that if your latitude is near the equator, then you will have to lay your solar panels almost flat. But if you are closer to the poles, then you will need to install your solar panels more upright. You can refer to the following table for choosing the right solar panel tilt or solar panel angle as per your latitude:
| Latitude | Solar Panel Tilt Angle |
| 20 to 25 degree | 15 to 20 degree |
| 25 to 30 degree | 15 to 20 degree |
| 30 to 35 degree | 20 degree |
| 35 to 40 degree | 20 to 25 degree |
| 40 to 45 degree | 20 to 25 degree |
| 45 to 50 degree | 25 to 30 degree |
How do you Find the Best Solar Panel Tilt for Different Seasons?
Apart from your latitude, the current season will also affect the optimal solar panel angle for its tilt. This is due to the reason that in different seasons, the sun changes its position which affects the total sunlight that falls on your solar panels.
For example, the sun will be much higher in the sky than where it will be during the winters. But since you will not be changing the position and the angle of your solar panels again and again, making sure that you are installing it at an optimal angle is highly important.
You need to install your solar panels at such an angle that it offers optimal efficiency during all seasons is highly important. If you are in the USA, then you can refer to the following table for choosing the optimal angle for all seasons:
| State | Winter Tilt Angle | Spring/Fall Tilt Angle | Summer Tilt Angle |
| California | 32 degree | 56 degree | 80 degree |
| Arizona | 34 degree | 58 degree | 82 degree |
| Texas | 34 degree | 57 degree | 80 degree |
| Connecticut | 26 degree | 49 degree | 72 degree |
| Michigan | 24 degree | 48 degree | 72 degree |
| New York | 26 degree | 49 degree | 72 degree |
| Florida | 40 degree | 64 degree | 88 degree |
| New Jersey | 28 degree | 51 degree | 74 degree |
| Virginia | 30 degree | 53 degree | 76 degree |
In case your solar panel installation allows you to adjust the angle, then you can adjust it every season or every two seasons during winters and summers. This will increase the efficiency of your solar panel quite a lot.
How do you Calculate the Solar Panel Angle for your Solar Panel System?
While we have already mentioned some of the most common tilt angles for different latitudes and different seasons, your region might not be mentioned in the same. Other than that, if you want to be assured that you are using the exact right tilt angle for your region, then you might want to calculate the same yourself. Hence, we are here with a complete method to calculate the solar panel angle for your solar panel system:
Calculate the Optimal Solar Panel Angle
Apart from calculating the exact solar panel angle for your solar panel system, some of you might want to install it without calculating the exact angle. In that case, you will have to install your solar panels more upright during winters and lower down during the summers. Similarly, you will have to install your solar panels lower if you are living closer to the equator and more upright near the pole. But if you want to calculate the exact tilt angle for your solar panels, then you can use either of the following methods:
Method 1
The first method is the easier one for those who want to calculate the solar panel angle quickly without having the best accuracy. This method simply needs you to add 15 degrees to your latitude during the winters and subtract 15 degrees during the summers. Even though this is not the most precise method, it will still offer decent efficiency.
Method 2
If you want a method for calculating the solar panel angle accurately, then you will need to do slightly more calculations. When it comes to calculating the solar panel angle for winters, you will need to multiply your latitude by 0.9 and then add 29 to it. This same angle will increase by 10 degrees during the day as the sun gets more up in the sky. As for summers, you will need to multiply your latitude by 0.9 and then subtract 23.5 degrees from it. Finally, you need to subtract 2.5 degrees from your latitude during summers and fall to get the right solar panel tilt angle for the best efficiency from your solar panels.
Conclusion
Now that you have been through this solar panel angle guide, you must have a pretty good idea about the right angle for installing your solar panels. Not only have we covered the importance of solar panel angles, but you can also learn how to find the right solar panel angle. And by using the right angle for your solar panel, you can use them at the highest efficiency for high power output. If you have gone through all the information regarding solar panel angle given above, make sure to share your thoughts in the comments section. You can also post any questions down there if you have any!
One Response
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