Solar Panel Direction: Does It Matter?

A few years back, one of the major topics for consideration was which direction solar panels should face. At that time, the high feed-in tariffs were applicable; they simply had to have an orientation facing north in order to maximize the production of the electricity in order to earn the most feed-in tariff money.

But in today’s scenario, high feed-in tariffs are seen as the past, so the question of orientation is more complicated as the point of self-consumption is taken into consideration. Self-consumption includes the usage of electricity in household things. The most solar electricity and the least grid electricity possible are used. The concept of self-consumption is the key to little electricity bills by using solar panels.

The utilization of energy that is produced by solar instead of grid power is far more cost-effective than receiving a low feed-in tariff for sending electricity into the grid. The more you are charged for grid electricity and the lower your solar feed-in tariff, the more important it becomes to maximize self-consumption.

Some of the Roof requirements for solar panels installation

Each and every roof shingles are not compulsorily ideal for solar panels. Roofing materials that are made from slate tiles, clay, and wood aren’t suitable for solar panel installation. These materials are fragile, and mounting becomes impossible in this case.

The installation of solar on wood shake roofs is not suitable. Wood is a potential fire hazard and has various safety issues.

Here we have mentioned many common roofing materials that can accommodate solar panels. Some of these materials include:

•       Asphalt shingles

•       Tile

•       Metal

Standing metal roofs are the most suitable for mounting solar. These roofs are characterized by durability and a secure base, and you can make installations without drilling them.

Best roof color for solar panels

The majority of solar panels are in dark blue or black color. Monocrystalline solar cells are mostly black, gray, or blue in color, while polycrystalline solar cells are blue. The blue or black coloration reflects little light; this maximizes the power output.

Another thing that impacts the color of solar panels is the thickness of the anti-reflection coating applied to each panel. This thin film deters light from reflecting off the panel’s glass and instead helps it absorb into the panel and produce more solar energy. However, if the coating is too thick, it stops or restricts the panel from performing at its peak.

What Are the Best Colors For Performance?

The black solar panels and blue solar panels are the best colors suited for high performance. Black monocrystalline panels that are made from a single, high-quality silicon crystal provide the best performance because the purity level of the silicon is the highest. Blue polycrystalline panels use more than one type of silicon crystal and maintain the level of performance.

Black-Colored Solar Panels

Black-colored panels are capable of absorbing most of the sunlight because of their crystal arrangement. This feature makes it the most efficient. This aspect of their design meant that you need fewer panels to produce the same amount of energy, so they are ideal for limited space. Black panels are suitable for warmer weather when blue, and other colors lose some productiveness due to the rise in temperatures.

Black-colored solar panels are popular in commercial settings that require a more reliable performance output, but they can just as easily be found in home solar panel kits. The black panels come with a 25-year warranty.

Solar Panels On standing metal roof

Metal roofs provide the most durability and fire resistance features. They also offer good reflectivity, which can help keep your home cooler in the summer months as well.

In short, a metal roof is a solution to stressful minds.

Yes, you can put solar panels on a metal tile roof. Installing solar panels on asphalt tile is more common than on metal. There are people who are not familiar with this feature.

Advantages Of Plotting Solar Panels On A Metal Roof

Metal roofs are an excellent choice for solar panel installation, as they feature various advantages like:

•       Durable and long-lasting

•       Reflects sunlight and keeps the home cooler

•       Save money on energy bills

Durability

Metal roofs are highly durable in nature and can last for decades with minimal maintenance requirements. Metal roofs are also fire resistant, which can provide peace of mind in areas where wildfires are a concern.

Reflects Sunlight

Metal roofs are a great medium of reflecting the sunlight, which can help keep your home cooler in the summer months. It can lead to lower air conditioning bills and reduced energy consumption.

Metal roofs are environmentally friendly, as they can be recycled at the end of their lifespan.

Easy Installation

Metal roofs are thinner and less brittle than shingle roofs, which makes them easier to drill and less likely to crack or break. You can also feed the cables underneath a metal roof easily.

What is a Solar type roof design?

After making the decision to install solar panels at the top of your home, the next step is to determine the details of your specific solar array. As solar panels are installed on your home’s rooftop, it becomes relevant for you to understand how different roof types may influence this process.

Composite roofing is the most common type of roof. Because of this, there are a large number of individuals who are looking to install solar panels on their composite roofing. Composite shingles are also termed asphalt shingles that are utilized in this roof type and are made from fiberglass or cellulose mat. Asphalt and other minerals are then added to the shingle to produce the final product. There are numerous benefits that come with using composite roofing. Advantages include cheaper cost, flexibility in its look, and durability. A composite roof type is one of the best options for solar panels.

Tile roofing is another type of roof that can be found in almost any neighborhood. Tiles can be made of different materials, and that is why it is important to determine accurately what materials your tiles are made out of. For instance, installing solar panels on clay tiles may be more expensive than installing concrete tiles.

When a solar panel array is installed on a tile roof, it will need to be attached to brackets that will lift the panels above the roof.

Metal Standing

Seam Metal roofing with standing seams is the best roof type for the installation of solar panels. The standing that seams on these roofs make the attachment of the panel array incredibly easy. You also do not have to drill any holes into your roof with a seam metal roof type. This roof type is eco-friendly in nature. They last for over 30 years. Metal roofs with standing seams can allow you to install both thin film and standard PV panels. These roof types also reflect a significant amount of sunlight that is not being absorbed by the solar panel, which facilitates the cooling effect.

Tar and Gravel: For these types of homes have a flat roof. Tar and gravel roofs are made out of layers of sheets that are attached to hot tar and roofing felt. There are some other mineral coatings included there. It may require additional brackets that can be tilted at a 30-degree angle. The technique is very simple to perform, but it will be more expensive than installing it on a tilted roof or with a different material.

Wood: The last roof types that are common in the market are wooden roofs. Wooden roof types can include shingles at an angle or may be completely flat, so the specifics will be dependent on the way the roof is structured. Wooden roofs are less viable for solar panels because of fire safety concerns.

Which direction should solar panels face in India?

The best panel direction to maximize the self-consumption of solar electricity is totally dependent upon a household’s electricity usage. Here we have listed some of the best suited direction for the solar panel:

North Orientation: Panels that face the north are expected to produce the most electricity overall. North-facing solar panels are often the best choice during the day. The reason is not only that they are there to use electricity when it is produced but also because it is easy for them to shift demand by using washing machines, clothes dryers, pool filters and other devices. The north-facing solar panels produce the most electricity overall; they will have the greatest environmental benefit.

West Orientation: Panels that are facing the west direction produce around 15% less electricity overall than north-facing solar panels. They also produce less electricity in the morning but more in the afternoon. They reach their maximum output around one and a half hours after noon and just before sunset, will produce around one-quarter of their peak maximum. It is an excellent direction for people who are usually out of the house during the day. Because of the reduction in the total amount of electricity generated compared to north-facing panels, the increase in self-consumption that will result will need to be considered to make west-facing solar panels worthwhile.

Which direction should solar panels face in the northern hemisphere?

Solar panels that face the northwest direction will produce around 5% less electricity overall than north-facing panels. Their electricity production throughout the day will be between that of north and facing panels and that of west-facing panels. They produce more electricity during the afternoon and slightly less in the morning.

East Orientation: Solar modules that face the east direction are similar to west-facing panels in producing around 15% less electricity overall than north-facing ones, but they will produce more electricity in the morning and less in the afternoon. They are best suited for household usage with high consumption in the morning.

North-east Orientation: Panels facing north-east will produce around 5% less electricity than north-facing solar panels, and their products throughout the day will be between the north-facing module and east-facing ones.

East and West Orientation: Placing some solar panels facing east and some facing west will result in the total amount of electricity produced being around 15% less than if all the modules were placed facing north. This arrangement is often called east/west split and has the advantage of producing a more constant output of electricity during the day, which can help to increase self-consumption. The steeper the roof, the smoother the output of the system will be.

An east/west split can normally have a different number of modules facing in each direction.

Which direction should solar panels face in the southern hemisphere?

The direction of the south is the worst direction modules can face, and there are some people who consider installing panels facing south almost as big a mistake as installing them upside down. This further reduced the cost of solar panels over the past ten years, and installing solar panels on a south-facing roof is worth it nowadays.

The south-facing solar panels will typically produce around 28% less energy than north-facing panels, and the steeper the roof, the less electricity it will produce.

But in the far north, the difference is not so great, and in Townsville, south-facing solar panels will only produce around 17% less electricity in total than north-facing ones. In addition to this, they will produce more electricity in summer than in north-facing panels. Because people usually utilize considerably more electricity in summer than winter as they run their air conditioners and many more appliances.