Not all solar panels are created equal. Power ratings, efficiency ratings, and power degradation ratings are just a few of the qualifications that set solar panels apart from one another. While this is true, there are a variety of other real-world factors that determine how much energy your system will produce throughout the year.
Tilt angle, latitude, orientation, and climate can have major impacts on a solar system’s performance so if you are planning to offset your electric bill with solar. It is important to understand how these factors can impact solar production.
1. The Tilt Angle of Solar Panels
The tilt angle of your solar panels can have a major impact on the overall output of your system. Ideally, you would want to adjust the tilt angle of your panels throughout the year because the sun is higher in the early of the year and lower in the end of the year. However, systems that track the sun are more expensive and require maintenance because they have moving parts. Every fixed tilt angle system has an optimal angle where it will make the most out of each season, and, while a few degrees may not make a drastic difference in efficiency in a single year the difference over the lifetime of the system could be much more substantial.
2. Latitude
Latitude also has a major impact on solar system production. Systems installed at higher latitudes will yield lower production numbers throughout the year due to the tilt of the earth as it spins on its axis. In Singapore, there is not much you can do because everyone is located at same latitude. Our solar panels are able to generate power equally throughout the island.
3. Orientation
Where you place modules on your roof can have a major impact on production as well. The best direction to position your modules is east facing, with the second best being west and the third option being south. North facing roofs can provide enough production in some cases to make it worthwhile to install panels, but more often than not north facing azimuths are not recommended. While you cannot control how much roof space is available to each azimuth you can be strategic about how you use your available roof space to optimize the production of your system.
4. Climate
Climate can also have major impacts on a system’s performance. For example, there is a common misconception that modules will produce less in cold environments. In fact, the opposite is true. Heat is the enemy of efficiency, and cold environments can keep solar systems from overheating and losing efficiency. Furthermore, snow is reflective and concentrates sunlight improving overall irradiance. So as long as you keep the snow from burying your modules, your system will benefit substantially from the cold environment. Understanding how your environment will impact your system from season to season is of paramount importance when designing a solar system to meet your energy requirements.
Knowing what factors affect solar panel production is important to ensure that you get the most savings possible out of your system. If you have any other questions about solar panel production or would like to speak with one of our trusted solar educators, contact Solar Era Now!
