Orientation

 
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Solar Radiation from different orientations

The amount of solar energy received on any surface area in the UK will depend upon the extent to which the surface is free from shade, the orientation of the surface and the angle of tilt of the surface.

Roof Orientation

The point about Solar Energy and its use is that you have to capture the energy by means of a collector, a Solar Collector.

For Thermal Energy, the part of the Sun's spectrum used is the Infra-Red part. Infra-red achieves a deeper penetration because of its wavelength and thus works through cloud layers as well.

For Photo-voltaic collectors, to generate electricity, the part of the Sun's spectrum is the visible and Ultra Violet, giving over all "Light level".

The following diagrams demonstrate the differences in energy collection from different roof orientations.

The diagram shown sets out how solar energy intensity varies for different angles of tilt and Orientations (assuming unshaded surfaces)

The diagram shown above sets out how solar energy intensity varies for different angles of tilt and Orientations (assuming unshaded surfaces).

South Facing Roof East-West Facing Roof
South Facing Roof
East-West Facing Roof

In the South facing roof, the collectors capture the solar energy for about 7 to 8 hours per day in Summer because the angle of "attack" of the sunshine of Ultra Violet or Infra-red becomes too shallow and gets reflected more than absorbed.

In East - West facing roofs, ( this is also affected by the angle of the roofs) you can capture Solar Energy for about 5 to 6 hours on each side of the ridge line and therefore if you site panels or collectors on both sides, you can achieve approx total of about 10 hours. Needless to say putting panels on both roofs costs more but can collect energy all day.
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