For a precise method use the second formula on this page to calculate tilt angle.
Fixed tilt solar panels.
There s a simple rule of thumb for calculating the best tilt angle for fixed mount solar panels.
Trackers increase the production of a site by more than 15 to 25 over fixed tilt.
For panels that you will want to use all year and not have to touch once they are installed you will want to install at a solar panel angle optimized for just that.
Here are a few things to consider when determining the best tilt for a solar array.
In a world of rapidly decreasing prices for solar ppas increased power production is critical in helping project owners achieve a viable roi.
This type of mount remains fixed in place and does not track the sun across the sky during the day and usually faces towards the southern sky at an angle that is equal to the latitude of the location of the panel.
Unirac s unmatched commercial project support makes construction easy from permitting through installation including region specific engineering.
The solar panel tilt also depends on when you want the panels to produce the most energy.
To get the most sun reaching the panel throughout the day you need to determine what direction the panels should face and calculate an optimal tilt angle.
On the picture below is a easy to understand map.
It would be great if everyone had a roof that was angled exactly the same as their latitude but every property is unique.
Solar panels with a fixed tilt angle.
One of these evaluations is choosing between fixed tilt and axis tracking systems in pv solar fields.
The fixed tilt non tracking solar panel seen here is the simplest and least expensive solar panel mount.
Unirac s ground fixed tilt gft is an engineered system of standard lightweight ground mount components that are in stock and ready to ship from north america s largest ground mount distribution network.
Showing with clear colored lines what your best solar panel angle will be depending on where.
So why exactly are we seeing this shift from fixed tilt to single axis trackers.
Axis tracker solar panels there are many design and financial evaluations that go into selecting the correct type of renewable resources in a region.
Therefore the optimal solar panel tilt may change with the seasons.
If you can change the angle multiple times a year you may get great output throughout the year.
If your solar panels will have a fixed tilt angle and you want to get the most energy over the whole year then this section is for you.
Fixed tilt non tracking solar panel.
The violet line is the solar energy per day if the panel is fixed at the winter angle discussed below these figures are calculated for 40 latitude.
We make ground mount simple.
Subtract 15 degrees from the latitude at your location during summer and add 15 degrees to your latitude during winter.
In the above.
Otherwise your best bet is to set it at an angle that is optimal for the most prevalent.