North if you are on an old 44 52 cent feed in tariff and want to sell power back to the grid.
Best orientation for solar panels in sydney.
The two factors that such an angle is controlled by are the orientation north south east west and the angle of the panels from the surface of the earth.
In a typical capital you can expect solar panels facing the worst direction to produce around 28 less energy than those facing the best.
The ideal orientation for living areas is within the range 15 w 20 e of true or solar north although 20 w 30 e of true north is considered acceptable.
Therefore directions like southwest or southeast are fine.
The standouts are darwin with only a 17 reduction and hobart where total output is reduced by 33.
Solar panels should face south for any home in america to obtain maximum power generation.
It allows standard eaves overhangs to admit winter sun to heat the building and exclude summer sun with no effort from the occupants and no additional cost.
Updated may 18 2020.
In fact all southern hemisphere locations should ideally position panels in a northerly direction.
The ideal angle for solar panels in australia is usually equal to the latitude angle of the location of the property.
They also produce less electricity in the morning but more in the afternoon.
Within the brisbane solar industry most people will tell you that the ideal location to place to put your panels is.
Panels facing west produce around 12 less electricity overall than north facing solar panels.
For example if you reside in sydney a roof pitch of 34 would be considered ideal as this is equal to the latitude angle 33 86 of the nsw capital.
This means that for best results the roof pitch of your property should ideally be equal to the latitude angle with the panels mounted at the same angle as the roof.
This maximizes the amount of energy striking the panels and being produced.
For australia solar power yields are higher when panels face north.
East west if you are on a low 6 12 cent feed in tariff and you want to maximise your morning and afternoon production.
They reach their maximum output around one and a half hours after noon and just before sunset will produce around one quarter of their peak maximum.
Panels mounted on a standard pitch roof facing east or west will produce approximately 15 less output than panels mounted on a south facing roof of a standard pitch.
The ideal situation is when the sun is hitting the panels at a perfectly perpendicular angle 90.
If your winter heating loads are supplied by electricity as opposed to gas or wood on the other hand then tilting your panels back at latitude plus 15 would be better.