{"id":1669,"date":"2012-05-23T17:39:18","date_gmt":"2012-05-23T08:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=1669"},"modified":"2019-12-10T14:19:19","modified_gmt":"2019-12-10T03:49:19","slug":"solar-panel-orientation-is-west-the-new-north","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/solar-panel-orientation-is-west-the-new-north\/","title":{"rendered":"Solar Panel Orientation: Is West the new North?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The following is a very common question that comes in to SQ HQ.<\/p>\n

“My roofline is North\/South, so my largest roof areas face either East or West. I have been told that\u00a0North Facing is ideal, but I \u00a0have a tiny North facing roof! Can I put some\u00a0solar panels on the East or West Facing roof (or both) ?”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Short Answer:<\/strong>\u00a0Stick some (perhaps all) on the West!<\/p>\n

Longer Answer:<\/strong> In terms of the amount of power produced, facing your panels East will produce exactly the same amount of power as facing them West. \u00a0In either case you’ll generally take a 10-15% power hit compared to having them facing the ideal direction (North).<\/p>\n

\"Compass\"<\/a>

Is North always the best direction for solar panels?<\/p><\/div>\n

So why do I say “probably West” as the short answer to the question?<\/p>\n

Well, the reason I err on the West facing roof is because that part of your roof will get the sun later in the day.\u00a0An East Facing solar array will generally produce its peak power at 10-11am. A West Facing array will produce its peak at closer to 2pm.<\/p>\n

Most people use more energy later in the day. And most people want to use as much of their solar energy as possible, without exporting it. Why? Because at the time of writing most Feed In Tariffs give you less per kWh if you export the electricity than you pay for imported electricity. So most people will pay off their solar system quicker if they minimise exports.<\/p>\n

Here’s a much more detailed explanation of how solar energy is exported depending on the time of day<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So if you face the panels West, and you are a typical family (in terms of electricity usage patterns anyway!), and your FiT is less than your retail electricity price, then West facing Solar Panels makes more sense than east facing.<\/p>\n

In fact, if you live in a State with a really miserly FiT (hello everyone except those in NT!) then it may actually make more financial sense to face your solar panels West rather than North! To work out if this is the case you’ll have to get a good feel for when in the day you use electricity, then estimate how that will affect what % of solar power you export. Then you can use my solar power payback calculator<\/a> to see which configuration pays back quicker.<\/p>\n

Or if that sounds like too much trouble – you could always engage a good solar power sales person \/ installer to do the analysis for you. And asking them to do this is a great way to filter out the not-so-hot sales people out there!<\/p>\n

Time of Use Electricity Pricing is Coming!<\/strong><\/p>\n

One more reason to consider West facing panels is that many people (me included) believe that in the near future everyone will be forced on to Time of use (TOU) electricity pricing where you pay differing amounts per unit of electricity depending on when you use that electricity.<\/p>\n

For example Energy Australia<\/a>‘s weekday TOU tariff costs 18c per kWh from 8am to 2pm, and a whopping 44.7c per kWh from 2pm to 8pm.<\/p>\n

If you were on a similar tariff, it could make a lot of sense to push your solar power generation to later in the day, where every kWh of solar power you use is worth 2.5 times more!<\/p>\n

The key is to find a solar installer or salesman that understands this stuff.<\/strong><\/p>\n

All this talk of Feed In Tariffs, TOU tariffs, and solar panel orientation can start to overload your brain when you combine it with trying to choose an installer and solar panel and inverter hardware. I feel your pain! The answer, as I mentioned above is to find a solar company that asks the right questions:<\/p>\n

1) What times of day do you use your electricity?<\/p>\n

2) How much do you use?<\/p>\n

3) What kind of electricity tariff are you currently on?<\/p>\n

So that they decide which panel orientation is right for you based on numbers (not a Wild Assed Guess!) and also so they can provide accurate<\/strong> payback calculations that take into account the ridiculously varied Feed In Tariffs in every state.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Everyone has always said Solar Panels should face North in Australia. But for many people it may actually make more sense to face them West. Here’s why…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[30,412,114],"class_list":["post-1669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-solar-panels-2","tag-feed-in-tariffs","tag-panel-orientation","tag-roof","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSolar Panel Orientation: Is West the new North? - SolarQuotes Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Everyone has always said Solar Panels should face North in Australia. But for many people it may actually make more sense to face them West. 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Read my full bio.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/","https:\/\/x.com\/FinnPeacock"],"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/author\/admin\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2FF2s-qV","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2063,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/solar-panel-direction-which-way-should-your-solar-panels-face\/","url_meta":{"origin":1669,"position":0},"title":"Solar Panel Direction: Which Way Should Your Solar Panels Face?","author":"Finn Peacock","date":"November 7, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Should you point your solar panels North so that you get the maximum power from them? Not necessarily...let me explain: http:\/\/youtu.be\/ql3dyD8ylFU And here's the transcript if you prefer reading: Hi! I\u2019m Finn Peacock, which direction should your solar panels face? Well, in an ideal world to maximize the power output\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar Installation"","block_context":{"text":"Solar Installation","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-installation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/ql3dyD8ylFU\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":78352,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/roof-orientation-solar-australia\/","url_meta":{"origin":1669,"position":1},"title":"There’s No Such Thing As A Badly Oriented Roof For Solar","author":"Anthony Bennett","date":"September 14, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"In Australia, the ideal solar panel orientation to maximise annual energy yield is north. If you've been holding back on solar power because your roof's orientation is east, west or even south, it's time to reconsider. Any solar is better than none in Australia, and with the advancements in technology\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar Panels"","block_context":{"text":"Solar Panels","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-panels-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Roof orientation and solar power in Australia","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/south-facing-header.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/south-facing-header.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/south-facing-header.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/south-facing-header.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/south-facing-header.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56172,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/solar-flat-roof-east-west-tilts\/","url_meta":{"origin":1669,"position":2},"title":"Solar Panels On A Flat Roof? Consider East-West Tilts","author":"Finn Peacock","date":"November 22, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"To maximise the solar energy generated over a year, the perfect roof to install solar panels on in Australia is large, north-facing and inclined at an angle close to the location's latitude. Panels mounted parallel to this perfect roof will be optimised for annual energy yield, and in most parts\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar Installation"","block_context":{"text":"Solar Installation","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-installation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Solar panels on a flat root - tilts","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/e-w-tilt.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/e-w-tilt.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/e-w-tilt.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/e-w-tilt.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/e-w-tilt.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1058,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/solar-panels-on-roofs-facing-different-directions-then-you-need-to-do-this\/","url_meta":{"origin":1669,"position":3},"title":"Solar Panels On Roofs Facing Different Directions? Then You Need To Do This.","author":"Finn Peacock","date":"February 9, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is a photo I took of a house around the corner from me. As you can see, it has solar panels on 2 separate roof areas. In solar jargon, you would say there are 2 \"strings\" of solar panels. The main string is facing North, which is the best\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar Installation"","block_context":{"text":"Solar Installation","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-installation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A House With Solar Panels Facing Different Directions","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/2-orientations.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":42131,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/rethinking-solar-orientation-mb1637\/","url_meta":{"origin":1669,"position":4},"title":"UniSA Research: Rethinking Solar Panel Orientation","author":"Michael Bloch","date":"August 11, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A UniSA solar researcher says it's time to rethink solar panel orientation (direction) to better suit peak electricity usage periods and maximise solar energy self-consumption. PhD candidate Kirrilie Rowe notes solar panels on homes in Australia have typically been installed facing the equator (north) to maximise electricity production, but the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Solar & Storage News"","block_context":{"text":"General Solar & Storage News","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-battery-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Solar panel orientation","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/solar-panel-orientation.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/solar-panel-orientation.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/solar-panel-orientation.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/solar-panel-orientation.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/solar-panel-orientation.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29142,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/best-solar-panel-direction\/","url_meta":{"origin":1669,"position":5},"title":"Solar Panel Direction: North Doesn’t Always Give Most Energy","author":"Ronald Brakels","date":"April 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Update 2 March 2025:\u00a0This was written in 2019 and insolation figures for Australian capitals have been updated since then.\u00a0 Current results differ from what's below, sometimes significantly. If you want up to date information, the best site to use I know of is PVWatts. It is generally accepted the best\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar Panels"","block_context":{"text":"Solar Panels","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-panels-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/solar-panel-direction.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/solar-panel-direction.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/solar-panel-direction.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/solar-panel-direction.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/solar-panel-direction.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1669"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1669\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35608,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1669\/revisions\/35608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}