How does tilting of solar panels affect their efficiency?
Tilting solar panels can affect their efficiency in several ways. First, tilting the panels to face the sun directly (also known as "tracking the sun") can increase the amount of sunlight that the panels receive, which can increase the amount of electricity they produce. This is particularly useful in locations that receive a lot of sun throughout the day, as the sun's angle changes over the course of the day.
Another way that tilting can affect efficiency is by allowing the panels to self-clean. When rain falls on a tilted panel, it is more likely to wash away dirt and debris, which can improve the panel's performance.
Lastly, in areas with snowfall, tilting solar panels to an angle of around 30-35 degrees can help prevent snow from accumulating on the panels and shading them, which can also increase their efficiency.
It's important to note that the optimal tilt angle for solar panels can vary depending on location, season, and the specific type of solar panel being used. A professional solar installer would be able to calculate the optimal tilt angle for a particular installation.
Another factor that can affect the efficiency of solar panels when they are tilted is shading. Tilting the panels can reduce the amount of shading that they receive, which can improve their performance.
However, in some cases, tilting the panels too high can actually decrease their efficiency by creating more opportunities for shading, especially if the area is surrounded by tall buildings, trees or mountains.
Also, Tilting solar panels can also be affected by the wind, in case of high windy location, it can be better to choose a steeper angle to reduce wind resistance on the panels.
Finally, the panel's tilt angle and orientation should also be taken into account when designing the solar array and optimizing the electrical performance of the system. and a good professional solar installers will carefully consider all of these factors and more when determining the best tilt angle for a particular installation.