One solution is to compensate by increasing the solar collector area either using more panels or larger collectors.
Solar panels south facing wall.
In the uk south facing panels will generate more than other orientations.
What happens if your roof isn t facing south.
If your roof doesn t face due south you could install solar modules on a south facing wall instead.
A south facing 5kw installation in minnesota with solar panels at the optimal tilt angle of 45 degrees will produce around 6 148 kwh a year.
Wall mounted vertical panels are still an energy generating option for solar installers.
Solar panel orientation in the uk.
Let s walk you through an average day august 6th to be exact.
See the chart below for a production breakdown.
The same installation with vertical solar panels however will produce 4 173 kwh each year a drop of 32 in yearly production.
Trees bushes or other buildings that cast shadows on the wall will make the solar panels less efficient.
As we re in the northern hemisphere the best solar panel orientation is obviously south but.
Solar panels perform at their best when the sun is shining straight on to the panels.
This will only work if the wall receives lots of direct sunlight i e.
The diagram shows how the sun passes over a house with solar panels on the south and west facing roof surfaces.
Install your panels on a wall.
When the sun shines onto the surface at an angle the panel will still generate electricity but it will be less effective.
But west facing panels are able to generate more even flow of electricity.
If your roof faces east west rather than north south you have a few options.
Installers have adapted pre existing mounting and racking technology or developed their own to install solar panels on the south facing walls of buildings.
It is relatively shade free.
Solar panels facing east or west won t get as much light as those on a southern facing roof.
I do think over time with newer types of solar panels harvesting and new tech a person might be able at at least a third of solar engery by using wall mounted systems.
Most solar panels are facing the wrong direction say scientists.
In northern hemisphere most solar panels point south.
Even if i had the newer high tech solar panels and i only got 50 to 30 compasity it is better than nothing.