Slope Of Roof For Solar Panels

Optimal electricity production occurs when solar panels face south at a tilt equal to 30.

Slope of roof for solar panels.

Individual solar panels can also be adjusted to an optimal angle that maximizes their sun exposure. The size of the path along the ridge depends on how much of the roof is covered in pv panels. Your solar panel installers can help determine if your roof slope is suitable for solar panel installation. Most australian homes have a roof pitch of 20 to 30 which is considered optimum for maximizing solar power generation.

However even if you lower the tilt of your roof all the way down to 5 production only decreases by about 10 percent. For roofs where pv panels cover up to 33 of the total area in plan view essentially as seen from above the panels must be at least 18 in. The angle of your roof actually has less impact on solar panel performance than the direction your solar energy system faces. The orientation of the panels and the angle they are tilted will have a greater effect on annual energy production.

At 30 the energy drops to 1 260kwh m2 year a reduction of just 0 4. The energy reduces as we move away from this optimum angle. However the panels can be installed anywhere between 10 to 35 deg with negligible efficiency loss.