How does the angle of a solar array affect performance?
The more perpendicular to the sun a solar module is, the greater the output. Having your modules face directly South (Azimuth = 0) and at a 45 degree tilt from the horizontal is ideal in Calgary. As we can see, the overall effect of deviating from the ideal is not altogher significant.
The following is the annual output of a typical 1000 Watt grid-tied solar electric system in Calgary:
| Yearly output from a 1000 Watt grid tied solar electric system (kWhrs) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azimuth | |||||
|
0° (S)
|
15°
|
30°
|
45° (SE / SW)
|
||
| Tilt Angle |
0°
|
1006
|
1006
|
1006
|
1006
|
|
15°
|
1148
|
1146
|
1122
|
1096
|
|
|
30°
|
1251
|
1238
|
1212
|
1161
|
|
|
45°
|
1290
|
1277
|
1238
|
1186
|
|
|
60°
|
1264
|
1251
|
1212
|
1148
|
|
|
75°
|
1186
|
1173
|
1135
|
1083
|
|
|
90°
|
1057
|
1045
|
1019
|
967
|
|
The following is the annual output as a percentage of the ideal (azimuth=0, tilt angle=45):
| Yearly output from a 1000 Watt grid tied solar electric system (% of optimal) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azimuth | |||||
|
0° (S)
|
15°
|
30°
|
45° (SE / SW)
|
||
| Tilt Angle |
0°
|
78%
|
78%
|
78%
|
78%
|
|
15°
|
89%
|
89%
|
87%
|
85%
|
|
|
30°
|
97%
|
96%
|
94%
|
90%
|
|
|
45°
|
100%
|
99%
|
96%
|
92%
|
|
|
60°
|
98%
|
97%
|
94%
|
89%
|
|
|
75°
|
92%
|
91%
|
88%
|
84%
|
|
|
90°
|
82%
|
81%
|
79%
|
75%
|
|
