However solar panels can be orientated on any roof that faces south of either east or west.
Best orientation for solar panels in sydney.
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.
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.
In a typical capital you can expect solar panels facing the worst direction to produce around 28 less energy than those facing the best.
In fact all southern hemisphere locations should ideally position panels in a northerly direction.
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.
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.
If your property is located in the northern hemisphere panels facing south will perform best.
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.
North if you are on an old 44 52 cent feed in tariff and want to sell power back to the grid.
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.
If the loads are roughly equal in summer and winter tilting the panels at latitude should be fine.
The ideal situation is when the sun is hitting the panels at a perfectly perpendicular angle 90.
Updated may 18 2020.
This maximizes the amount of energy striking the panels and being produced.
Therefore directions like southwest or southeast are fine.
They also produce less electricity in the morning but more in the afternoon.
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.
Solar panels should face south for any home in america to obtain maximum power generation.
Within the brisbane solar industry most people will tell you that the ideal location to place to put your panels is.
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 facing west produce around 12 less electricity overall than north facing solar panels.