Solar Panels On West Facing Roof

I get asked this a lot and there isn t really a simple answer.

Solar panels on west facing roof. However the economics of installing solar panels on a roof that does not face the south still usually stack up for the homeowner. You also can mount solar panels on roofs that face east or west on the roof of another building like a barn or garage or on the ground. Let s walk you through an average day august 6th to be exact. Why orientation matters with rooftop solar in general solar panels that are oriented directly east or directly west will produce about 20 percent less electricity than if they were facing south.

The sun rises at 5 52 am and begins directly shining on the south facing panels at 8 15. That captures the most solar energy over the course of the day which benefits the homeowner but. I would be grateful for any thoughts suggestions on the direction to face solar panels. Can solar panels be fitted if your roof is east west facing.

For years homeowners who bought solar panels were advised to mount them on the roof facing south. The diagram shows how the sun passes over a house with solar panels on the south and west facing roof surfaces.