If you’re a business owner or homeowner that has just started to look into solar energy it’s likely that you are interested in getting a system that’s going to be as efficient as possible. When a solar panel is properly installed it can transfer sunlight into electricity in the most efficient manner. There are some adjustments that can be made to solar panels to improve their energy output.
The angle of the sun changes depending on the time of the year and the time of the day so there are some methods that you can use to vertically tilt your panels throughout the year to maximize the energy production on the solar panels!
Why You Need to Adjust Your Solar Panels Often
Throughout the summer the sun is going to be higher in the sky than it is during the winter. Regularly repositioning your cells between these two seasons will make sure that you can maximize the output of the electricity. Establishing this position is best done with the help of a professional maintenance package that will clean off your solar panels and work at making appropriate adjustments.
Tilt Angle on Solar Panel Calculation
Subtract 15° from your latitude during the summer to calculate the angle that your solar panel should be at. With the winter angle, you should add 15° your latitude when calculating the optimal angle. The best location for autumn and spring means subtracting 2.5° from the base angle to capture the ideal sunlight. A second measure for producing an optimal tilt means accounting for the sun’s changes of season to capture sunlight at the best point, which is the midday sun. This method of calculation often involves adding a latitude of 29° for the winter and subtracting 23.5° from your latitude during the summer.
A solar installer can also provide you with an optimal tilt for year round production. Getting this optimal tilt will allow you to achieve a happy equilibrium for most of the year!
If you think your solar panels could use adjustment or you would like to learn more about optimal tilt for your solar panels after installation, contact us today.
This post was written by Daniel Massaad, owner and expert solar technician at Energy Solutions Direct! ESD is one of the premier Tampa solar companies! Our licensed and certified contractor are masters of their craft; with years of experience servicing the great Tampa Bay area and beyond, the choice is simple. ESD excels at offering you the best in solar value!
