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at its optimumtilt, a solar energysystem may be

22% smaller thana system installed

parallel to theground

Solar Power Primer: Panel TiltDec 03 2010 Published byPatrick Newell under Renewable Energy Technology

If you have attended a Civitas Energyfree

solar seminar (hint, hint!), then you have heard

us stress the importance of panel tilt as it

pertains to solar energy efficiency. To

summarize, a solar panel at its optimum tilt can produce 22% more energy than

the same panel laid flat on the ground (using the assumptions described

shortly), which means you would need 22% fewer panels to offset your energy

needs. But why, exactly, does the tilt of a solar panel impact its output? Is there

an optimum tilt? Does it vary by location?

The quick answers: 1) thats complicated,so continue reading; 2) there sure is; and

3) it sure does.

Optimum Tilt & Location

The prime tilt for a solar panel results

when the face of the module is perfectly

perpendicular to sunlight. Creating a

perpendicular surface reduces the chance of the protective glass coating

reflecting light away from the panel. Additionally, when a surface is not

perpendicular, it has a smaller effective surface area. Heres an example: take

the nearest book, piece of paper, or even your keyboard. Hold it up so that it is

perpendicular to your line of vision. Now start tilting it away from you; it

appears smaller to more you tilt it, right?

The actual ideal measurement varies by location; it varies by time of day; and it

varies by time of year. Lets make a few assumptions before discussing what

the optimum tilt is going to be:

1. Our solar PV array is located in Princeton, NJ

2. Today is the Vernal Equinox (when the sun is directly above the equator)

3. It is noontime

Given these assumptions, the optimal tilt for our solar panels is 40.3 degrees

from the horizon. That was easy, right? Ok, ok, here is the explanation: our

assumptions were carefully chosen such that the result is exactly equal to the

line of latitude on which Princeton lies, 40.3. So for those of you in Princeton

with pitched roofs of 40.3, congratulations, you have the perfect site for solarenergy!

Lets clear this up with the image below. Photons of light are emitted from the

sun on very close to parallel paths. At the equator, these photons hit the

horizon a perpendicular angles, which is ideal (remember, we are assuming that

it is the equinox). In Princeton, however, light hits at an angle, so we t ilt our

solar panels to create a perpendicular surface.

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