In the uk the optimum roof pitch for solar panels is 30 to 40 degrees.
Optimum pitch for solar panels uk.
To get the best out of your photovoltaic panels you need to angle them towards the sun.
The sun s rays are hitting the panel perpendicularly i e.
As the sun appears to move across the sky from east to west through the day and it appears to move up and then down in the sky as well an optimum fixed mounting position must be found for a.
The summer optimum tilt angle on the other hand will be 34 15 19.
So let s just say that you really don t want your panels being shaded.
However pitch angles between 30 and 45 degrees will work well in most situations.
This is due to the fact that the angle of the sun is 50 to 60 degrees which when combined with a 30 to 40 degree roof pitch creates a 90 degree angle.
As well as the orientation the angle at which the panels are pitched is important.
The ideal angle is about 30 degrees off the horizontal simply because this allows the panels to extract more from the sun in the morning and the evening whilst still making the most of the mid day sun.
The optimum tilt angle is calculated by adding 15 degrees to your latitude during winter and subtracting 15 degrees from your latitude during summer.
If you are trying to install solar panels on a steep roof it may not be possible to place panels at the optimal tilt with traditional racking systems.
Pv panels output will drop off beyond these figures.
The following table gives the best dates on which to adjust.
A photovoltaic solar panel will generate the most electricity when solar radiation hits it directly i e.
Shade will also affect your output regardless of the orientation or elevation.
The optimum angle varies throughout the year depending on the seasons and your location and this calculator shows the difference in sun height on a month by month.
Overall the angle of your rooftop has less impact on solar panel performance than the direction your roof faces.
If you are going to adjust the tilt of your solar panels twice a year and you want to get the most energy over the whole year then this section is for you.
Providing the highest level of solar radiation.
The effect of shading on solar panels shading is a big problem for solar photovoltaic panels.
Many roofs are going to have slopes between 30 and 40 degrees which means that solar panels can lie flush against the roof and produce enough electricity for attractive returns.
Ideally a fixed roof mounted solar energy system should be at an angle that is equal to the latitude of the location where it is installed.
In the far north of scotland your panels would perform better if your roof angle was 40 degrees.
A typical two storey house roof in the uk ha a roof elevation of around 30º 40º although there are exceptions.
At a 90 degree angle face on.
For the far south of england the optimal roof angle would be closer to 30 degrees.
Pitch and solar pv.
