In most of the solar pv energy calculator tools an azimuth value of zero is facing the equator in both northern and southern hemispheres.
Azimuthal angle of solar panels.
Solar azimuth angle a.
Azimuth is measured in degrees clockwise from north.
Therefore the best angle for your solar panels is the one that allows the panels to get the most direct perpendicular light.
The azimuth is the angle of easy west south and north.
The horizontal orientation of your panels in relation to the equator in this case.
It also changes angle in the sky as the seasons change.
Az el both report dark after astronomical twilight.
Positive 90 degrees is facing due west negative 90 degrees is facing due east.
Since solar panels are more productive when the sun s rays are perpendicular to their surfaces the certainly best orientation is the one directly true south azimuth angle 180.
The azimuth angle varies throughout the day as shown in the animation below.
In general a 0 equals south a 0 is east and a 0 is west.
The solar azimuth angle is the azimuth angle of the sun s position.
At the equinoxes the sun rises directly east and sets directly west regardless of the latitude thus making the azimuth angles 90 at sunrise and 270 at sunset.
In terms of solar pv system the due south of azimuth is 0 it is minus angle from south to east to north it is positive angle from south to west to north.
But that task is complicated by the fact that the sun moves across the sky throughout the day.
This horizontal coordinate defines the sun s relative direction along the local horizon whereas the solar zenith angle or its complementary angle solar elevation defines the sun s apparent altitude.
Solar panels produce electricity when sunlight hits their surface and they produce the most energy when that sunlight is exactly perpendicular to the panel face.
The compass angle shows 180 for south 90 for east and 270 for west.
Elevation is measured in degrees up from the horizon.
Solar panels work best when they face directly into the sun.
The selection of azimuth and inclination angle of solar cell module is one of the most important factors in the design of solar photovoltaic system the so called azimuth generally refers to the east west north and south direction of the angle for the solar photovoltaic system the azimuth angle is 0 due south negative angle from south east to north and downward angle from south to north.
Cosine of solar zenith angle.
On the contrary in the countries of the southern hemisphere such as south africa and australia the best orientation is true north.
