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.
Ideal roof pitch for solar colectots.
Find the best angle for optimizing solar collection during winter when solar energy is most scarce by multiplying your latitude by 0 89 and then adding 24 degrees.
One solution is to compensate by increasing the solar collector area either using more panels or larger collectors.
If we are in chicago and we need energy only in the winter season it is good to choose a tilt angle between 53 and 65 example 59 while if we need only in the summer it is good to choose a tilt angle between 19 and 30 example 24 5.
Overall the angle of your rooftop has less impact on solar panel performance than the direction your roof faces.
You will most likely be installing the solar panels on your roof which is why you have to take into account the roof pitch too.
There are several factors in your control when it comes to finding the ideal pitch for your solar panels.
Solar panels facing east or west won t get as much light as those on a southern facing roof.
If your roof faces east west rather than north south you have a few options.
Most roofs have an inclination of 30 to 40 degrees.
The angle of most rooftops varies depending on the architecture of the house and city in question.
For example in melbourne most houses have a roof pitch of 23 or 28 depending on the style of architecture.
However pitch angles between 30 and 45 degrees will work well in most situations.
30 degrees is ideal but as long as it s not too steep to install safely the pitch is relatively unimportant.
Ideally solar panels would be positioned at an angle of 38 in melbourne equal to the latitude angle of the city 37 81.
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.
For instance if your latitude.
For example the latitude of los angeles california is 34 degrees so the tilt of your solar panels would be 34 degrees.
At this level the solar panel can lie flat on the roof and get enough sunlight to produce enough electricity.