Use of solar panels in the north

Should solar panels be pointing south or North?

It’s considered common knowledge that you want to point your solar modules south, toward the equator (assuming you are in the northern hemisphere). This maximizes the energy production over the course of the year, through both summer and winter. Sometimes, however, the homeowner will want to add modules on the north-facing roof.

Are north-facing solar panels a good investment?

If you live in the northern hemisphere then you’ll know that this isn’t ideal because the sun is generally in the south. So for the past few months I’ve been running a bit of a simulation to see how much energy north-facing panels on my home might have generated, and whether it would be a worth-while investment.

Can you put solar panels on a north-facing roof?

Sometimes, however, the homeowner will want to add modules on the north-facing roof. This may be for aesthetic purposes, or sometimes because the south-facing rooftop isn’t fit for solar. The most common rule-of-thumb is that you simply can’t do that. But we wanted to ask, how bad is it to put solar panels on a north-facing roof?

Can photovoltaic technology be used in northern communities?

A problem for integrating photovoltaic technology in northern communities is the seasonal availability of the sun. Abundant sunlight in the summer can provide an almost continuous source of electricity that is shortened or non-existent during the cold, dark winter months when electricity demand is highest.

Why should you install solar energy modules in northern regions?

Solar cell components are able to produce more energy at lower temperatures and systems experience fewer electrical losses resulting in a higher overall energy yield. Installing solar energy modules in northern regions can be challenging since it must be adapted to the harsher climate.

Where should solar panels be positioned?

By Paul Grana, co-founder, Folsom Labs It’s considered common knowledge that you want to point your solar modules south, toward the equator (assuming you are in the northern hemisphere). This maximizes the energy production over the course of the year, through both summer and winter.