Those living in the Northern Hemisphere need to position their solar panels south, whereas solar installations in the Southern Hemisphere should be installed north.
Can solar panels be installed on a north-facing roof?
"While north-facing roofs are the least favorable option for solar panels, it is technically possible to install solar panels on the north side of your roof," explains an expert from Energy Education 1. "However, it's not the best location for solar production.
Which hemisphere should solar panels be installed in?
Those living in the Northern Hemisphere need to position their solar panels south, whereas solar installations in the Southern Hemisphere should be installed north. This is because of the sun's southern offset in the Northern Hemisphere and a northern offset in the southern one. As an example, let us take a roof in the Northern Hemisphere.
Why is south the Best Direction for solar panels?
Our understanding of why south is the best direction for solar panels in the United States starts with the equator. This is the imaginary line that separates the earth into two hemispheres: northern (where the US is located) and southern. It's also the center of the range where the sun sits in the sky.
Everything north of the equator line will find the sun facing slightly south. To take advantage of this knowledge, you can point your solar panels southward. This gives them the best opportunity to absorb energy, powering your home and charging your batteries.
Situated north of the equator (which puts the sun on the south side of houses), homeowners have the best opportunity to cover their power usage, top off batteries, and maximize offsets from net metering. However, others may find reasons to face their array in different directions. Let's learn about the best solar panel orientation for any goal.
As we've mentioned earlier, your location's latitude plays a major part in determining the best solar panel angle. Across the continental U.S., the optimal tilt can range from 30-45 degrees. However, the further north you live, the more orientation can affect solar panel efficiency.