8883 Solar panel positioning

Ciao e tutti,

I rememember some discussion recently about positioning solar panels for optimum output & losses associated with non-optimum positioning.

Here is a link to a "solar sundial" that I have just "re-found".
It is a resource primarily aimed at grid connected PV's but the information should be useful in calculating & comparing the efficiency of the positions you might have available.

[url=http://www.solsticeenergy.co.uk/photovoltaics.htm]Solstice Energy - About Grid-Connected Photovoltaics[/url]

I am off to the Ecocasa ([url=http://www.ecocasa.re.it/home.asp]ECOCASA 2008[/url]) show on Wednesday to check out the building materials & heating options available in Italy. I should have a nice collection of websites to share when I get back!!

Pip pip

Pip pip

Category
Cost of living - Utility Services

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/25/2008 - 09:31

It's a good indicator, Chris, but it's for the UK.

Needs recalculation for Italy - lower latitudes - and will vary as you go down the country

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/25/2008 - 17:35

[quote=Neil T;83554]It's a good indicator, Chris, but it's for the UK.

Needs recalculation for Italy - lower latitudes - and will vary as you go down the country[/quote]

Good point, Perhaps some sort of "fiddle-factor" could be applied to the elevation figures?

Pip pip

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 06:55

I remember seeing somewhere that the optimum angle of elevation should be the same as the Latitude, but that sounds too easy.

I'm trying to get my head around this, and if I ever do, will get back!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 06:28

From the Navitron website:

Where do these need placing and at what angle?
Panels should be sited on a south facing wall or roof. In fact, anywhere between South-West and South East will give good results. If you are limited to an East-West facing system, then you will need two panels to provide the same amount of hot water as a single south-facing roof slope. The most frequent solution to this problem is normally to mount one panel on the east slope and a second panel on the west slope. A special controller is available for East/West facing installations. The panels should be mounted at the angle of your lattitude. For example, at our location in the UK, this is 53˚. This is AVERAGE optimum angle. In fact, in winter the optimum angle is around 10˚ steeper, whereas in the summer it is 10˚ shallower. The panels will function anywhere between 15 and 90˚ angle of inclination. This is actually academic, a variation of 10˚ will make very little difference to the output, so most people simply settle for whatever angle their roof slope is. The extra cost of trying to stand panels off the roof to achieve better efficiency would probably be better spent on purchasing a second panel, or energy-saving measures such as extra loft insulation!

Navitron feature on the "It's not easy being green" BBCTV show

[url=http://www.navitron.org.uk/news.php]Navitron: News[/url]