What is Azimuth Angle? The azimuth angle, or the solar panel azimuth, defines the compass direction your solar panels face. This angle is pivotal in determining the quantity of sunlight your panels receive throughout the day.
Also, the impact of the azimuth angle of solar panels on power production decreases as we move toward the equator. It is because the tilt angle of panels becomes very small near the equator. As a result, panels are inclined almost flat, and the direction of panels becomes less relevant.
When the sun is lower in winter, adjusting your panels to a slightly steeper azimuth angle is advisable to capture more sunlight. This compensates for the reduced angle of the sun’s rays during the colder months.
The solar azimuth angle changes every single second. In the morning, it will always be around 90°, and in the evening, the angle will approach 270°. From morning to evening, the angle may decrease or increase depending upon your location and time of the year.
Tucson, Arizona, is at 32.22° N latitude. We want to find the solar azimuth angle at 10:00 AM, 12:00 noon, and 2:00 PM on March 3rd. The solar hour angle at 10:00 AM will be 15°× (10−12) = −30°. Similarly, at 12:00 noon & 2:00 PM will be 0° & 30°. The number of days from January 1st to March 3rd is 31+28+2 = 61.Substituting d = 61 days,
The azimuth angle serves as the compass that guides your solar panels to capture abundant sunlight, ultimately translating into substantial energy savings and a greener planet. Properly aligning your solar panels is both environmentally friendly and financially rewarding, as it maximizes the return on your solar investment.