One of the most significant factors that impact the output from a solar panel system is the Azimuth angle of a roof or, in other words, the direction it faces. Solar production is directly tied to the amount of time that a solar system is exposed to sunlight. Solar panels placed on south-facing roofs will receive the most amount of sun exposure and, as a result, will produce the most electricity.
Just because a home does not have a south-facing roof does not mean that other roof orientations do not work for solar. Solar panels can efficiently be placed on east, west, or even north-facing roofs depending on things like aesthetics, different utility rate structures, or to avoid shading.
Why does roof orientation impact rooftop solar production?
Changing the orientation of a solar panel can impact its production. Panels that are facing directly south will produce around 20 percent more than those facing west or east. East or west-facing roof orientations may not be optimal for performance, but the exciting thing about solar technology is that solar panels on the west or east-facing roof can save a homeowner thousands of dollars on electricity over the life of the system.
How can a homeowner check on roof orientation?
All a homeowner has to do to identify the roof orientation at their home is to plug their address into Google Maps. Once the address has been looked up, use the grid to identify true south and
If you would like assistance checking on the orientation of your roof or would like to learn more about how your home's roof orientation will impact solar production contact Alchemy Solar today for a free solar consolation.