How to find the best solar panel tilt angle?

Hi Marty,

The rule of thumb is to mount the PV modules (panels) at the latitude of your locations. There are some caveats.

  • It is a good idea to have the panels at about 10°, even if near the equator. This prevents water from pooling, that contributes to soil and even mold build up.
  • The weather impacts production. For example, Sacramento CA is about 40°. Setting the panels at this angle is best for winter, but in the winter it rains, so a better angle is actually about 26°.

The way to find is use https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/
There is weather data for Manila. Select Manila and enter a proposed angle (along with other data) in the next page.
Run the simulation at different angles and see what energy you can harvest.

P~

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