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Three factors that most affect the production from solar panels

Inclination, orientation and shade are the three factors that most affect production. Maximising the solar radiation received by the panels is the best way to maximise their electricity production, whatever their location, efficiency or technology.

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People use many sources of energy, from fossil fuels to wave energy, but they are all essentially different forms of the same energy, the only kind the planet knows: solar energy. Solar radiation is sometimes stored in chemical bonds buried millions of years ago under the seabed, and in other cases, the power of the wind or sea is harnessed. Whatever the case may be, we have more and more technologies that enable us to harness all these natural sources of energy.

Making use of photovoltaic energy might seem like the simplest, and in a way it is because it involves making direct use of the sun. But when we look at the details of how a solar panel works it is usually much more complicated so we will explain it to you.

The sun's rays are made up of energy particles called photons that reach the panel's photovoltaic cells, which are composed of one or more layers of a semiconductor material and covered with glass. These photons generate an electric field between the layers and, therefore, a flow of electricity that will be greater the more intense the solar radiation. This is how the sun's rays are transformed into electricity.

Even though many factors are involved when it comes to optimising the production of a photovoltaic panel, there is one that is most prominent: To make sure that the panels receive the maximum solar radiation for as long as possible.

 

More efficient photovoltaic panels

Solar radiation levels are not the same in all parts of the planet. In Spain alone there are significant differences. The lowest levels of solar radiation are recorded in northern Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, while the highest are in Andalusia and Murcia, according to the Solar Radiation Atlas of the State Meteorological Agency. However, it is not easy to change your place of residence, and even less so if the sole objective is to optimise the production of your solar panels.

Therefore, whatever the location, to ensure that the photovoltaic panels receive maximum radiation, we have to take three factors into account: The inclination, orientation, and areas of shade. All of these should be analysed during the study and report prior to the installation of solar panels in any home.

 

The inclination of photovoltaic panels

Inclination refers to the angle between the solar panels and the horizontal plane, and it is measured in degrees. The objective of this inclination is for the sun's rays to strike the panels as perpendicularly as possible which is not always easy if you take into account that the position of the sun in the sky changes throughout the day and throughout the year. In fact, many industrial photovoltaic installations have systems that allow the angle of inclination to be modified to optimize energy production.

To calculate the optimal angle of inclination of fixed panels (such as those usually found in homes), you usually calculate an average that takes into account the position of the sun throughout the year (in winter it is lower, so the rays hit the panels at a less direct angle, while in summer it rises higher in the sky). This average coincides approximately with the latitude where we are on the planet. Thus, in mainland Spain, the optimal angle of inclination varies from 43 degrees in the northernmost towns to 35 degrees in the southernmost towns.

 

The orientation of the panels

When it comes to the best orientation for photovoltaic panels, things get simpler. Traditionally,  in the northern hemisphere, houses in cold places oriented their glazed parts or galleries to the south, to make the most of the heat of sunny days, while houses in warmer places tended to protect these areas more. Solar panels follow this same logic, as they produce more energy the greater the solar radiation received. They should always face south, as far as possible. In the Southern Hemisphere, the best orientation is the opposite, facing north.

 

Shade and solar panels

The final factor to take into consideration before installing solar panels is whether or not there is any shade. In fact, prior studies should include what they call shade analysis, as specified by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE in Spanish). This calculation should take into account the obstacles present, both near and far, and the effects produced by their shadows on the performance of the photovoltaic installation. By using a tool called a Shadow Calculator you can visualise how a specific surface will be affected by shadows throughout every day of the year.

In short, maximising the solar radiation received by the panels is the best way to maximise the electricity they produce, regardless of their location, efficiency or technology. To achieve this, they should be installed with an angle of inclination similar to that of the latitude where you are located (as long as they are fixed and do not have a system that enables the angle to be modified throughout the year), facing south (in the northern hemisphere) and avoiding areas with shade as much as possible.

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