Solar Panel Alignment Map

The optimum angle varies throughout the year depending on the seasons and your location.

Solar panel alignment map.

If you live in the northern hemisphere face them south. Solar panels on a shallow roof capture more sunlight during the summer season whereas solar panels on a steep roof will produce more power during the winter. For best results your solar panels should face toward the equator. If you are using a compass to orient your panels you need to correct for the difference which varies from place to place.

If ground or wall mounted panels don t work for you solar panels can also be mounted on a building near your house like your garage or a storage shed. This solar angle calculator tells you by location the optimum angle to get the best out of your system. To find your latitude consult a map for your region. Solar panels should always face true south if you are in the northern hemisphere or true north if you are in the southern hemisphere.

True north is not the same as magnetic north. To get the best out of your photovoltaic panels you need to angle them towards the sun. Ground mounted solar panels can even be placed on trackers which adjust the position of the panels throughout the year in order to maximize the amount of sunlight reaching them. If you live in the southern hemisphere face them north.

Solar panels produce electricity when sunlight hits their surface and they produce the most energy when that sunlight is exactly perpendicular to the panel face.