East-West Solar Panels Generate More Energy Than South-Facing
As solar energy continues to grow in importance, it is becoming increasingly valuable to orient your solar panels not to the south, but to the east and west.
This is because with energy prices rising by 30-40% in recent years across Europe, many households and businesses are facing higher bills. Additionally, midday oversupply of solar energy has led to negative electricity prices in the summer months. South-facing solar panels, designed to capture energy during midday, struggle when prices drop.
An east-west solar setup offers a solution. By capturing energy throughout the day, it can optimize energy production and save costs. Here's why east-west installations outperform south-facing ones, and keep reading to explore the various types of east-west setups.
Better Self-Consumption and Reduced Storage Needs With East-West Solar
While south-facing solar panels are great for capturing sunlight during midday, this is also when energy prices tend to plummet due to oversupply.
An east-west-facing installation is designed to capture sunlight during the morning and evening peaks when energy demand—and prices—are highest. This configuration ensures your solar panels generate electricity when it is most valuable, potentially offsetting the highest energy costs and maximizing your savings.
Moreover, vertical panels used in east-west orientations offer a distinct advantage by reducing the need for battery storage. A study by HTWK Leipzig, titled "Integration of Vertical Solar Power Plants into a Future German Energy System," highlights the benefits of bifacial solar modules in lowering battery storage requirements. Sophia Reker, who led the study, explains:
"Bifacial solar modules can use solar energy from both sides. Installed in an east-west orientation, most electricity is generated in the morning and evening. This reduces the need for electricity storage and minimizes the land required for electricity generation."
By capturing energy during these critical periods, homeowners and businesses can maintain a more consistent energy supply without the additional costs and complexities of large-scale battery storage systems.
Three Different Types of East-West Solar Installations
There are three main ways to orient your solar panels east-west:
10 degree tilt on a standard flat roof
45 degree tilt on a tilted roof
Vertical bifacial solar panels in an east-west configuration
Which option provides the most valuable production profile? Let’s look at the numbers. Below, you can see the production profiles for these three configurations, compared to a south-facing panel inclined at 15 degrees. Clearly, the 10-degree east-west configuration makes little difference. The 45-degree tilt provides a flatter profile but still peaks in midday, when energy is least valuable. However, the vertical configuration makes the most significant difference.
A Future-Proof Solution for Solar Energy
As the energy landscape evolves, it’s essential to invest in solar systems that align with current and future trends. With negative energy prices becoming more common during summer midday peaks, the economics of solar orientation are changing. South-facing installations risk reduced capture rates during times of overproduction, while east-west-facing systems provide a more resilient solution. It’s important to understand the varying energy production profiles based on different panel inclinations.
Vertical solar panels, by generating most of their power during the most valuable hours, improve self-consumption and contribute to a balanced, sustainable energy ecosystem.
Vertical Solar Fits Into the Picture
Vertical solar panels are particularly well-suited to east-west configurations. They capture sunlight from both sides, optimizing energy generation during high-demand periods — especially in the morning and evening when electricity prices are higher. This setup reduces reliance on battery storage and prevents overproduction during midday when prices are lower.
The financial benefits of vertical panels are also significant. With high bifaciality and optimized energy capture, vertical panels are projected to deliver over 50% higher returns per installed kWp over the next decade than traditional solar systems. As energy markets continue to evolve, investing in vertical bifacial panels for east-west installations is a smart move for those looking to maximize both energy production and long-term savings.
For more information, contact us to learn more about how our solar solutions can improve your energy efficiency.
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