Determining your panels orientation is an important thing to consider when designing a solar power system. You want to maximize not only your energy production but also your savings and self-consumption. Your panels orientation will depend on your electricity usage as well as your roof layout.
North orientation: The north side gets more sunlight through the day (see picture above). And it is easy to understand that North facing panels produce the most electricity overall. Saying that, it doesn’t mean that it is the best option for you. North facing panels produce more power in the middle of the day, so they will fit the needs of people who are at home around midday.
West orientation: Solar panels that are facing West produce on average approx. 12 per cent less than panels facing North. However, they produce more electricity in the afternoon than North facing panels and reach their maximum production after midday. They are a good solution for households with high electricity consumption later in the day.
East orientation: On the opposite, East facing panels will produce more electricity in the morning than in the afternoon and will meet the needs of households with higher consumption in the morning and people who are not home in the afternoon. Note that in term of quantity of electricity produced, facing your panels east or west will give you the same amount of power, the only difference will be the time of the day.
South orientation: South orientation is the worst position for your panels as the sun is always in the north (see picture above). In Sydney for instance, south-facing panels will produce approx. 30 per cent less electricity than panels facing north.
North-West orientation: Panels facing North-West produce slightly more in the afternoon with a production between North-facing systems and West-facing system. Overall, solar panels facing north-west panels produce 5% less than North-facing panels.
North-East orientation: North-East orientation offers an electricity production contrary to the North-West with a production slightly higher in the morning.
Splitting your system array to face different directions could be the best option: when you slip system up you get a more balanced production and it can be easier to manage and target self-consumption.
A system facing East/West, for example, can suit the needs of people at home all day as well as people at home in the morning and in the afternoon.
Depending on your roof, it is also possible to have more panels facing a 2 direction or than the other.
If you are considering a solar system and would like to determine precisely what will suit your needs and expectations, call Energis on 1300 782 217 or at sales@energis.com.au, one of our solar consultants will talk you through the best option for you and give you a free quote.
