Well when it comes to solar panels west is second best.
Solar panels on south facing wall.
Updated may 18 2020.
Although this is more unusual some people choose to mount panels on a south facing wall.
The same installation with vertical solar panels however will produce 4 173 kwh each year a drop of 32 in yearly production.
4258 kwhrs yr on the roof and 3167 kwhrs yr on the wall.
Therefore directions like southwest or southeast are fine.
More energy can be captured.
Go west young one.
In the northern hemisphere the sun crosses the sky a little to the south which means putting solar panels on a south facing roof is the best way for homeowners to capture the most solar energy.
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.
Compared to an optimal tilt angle facing south vertically mounted solar panels facing south would suffer a 42 loss in annual production in southwest florida.
If you have space in your yard the panels can also be mounted on the ground.
Also there will be more risk of shade on the wall.
Here are simulations for roof at 30 degrees facing south and mounted vertically on wall facing south.
Wall mounted solar panels and solar awnings.
This is less expensive and also gives easy access to the panels if you need to clean them brush off snow or do any other maintenance.
However solar panels can be orientated on any roof that faces south of either east or west.
A south facing 5kw installation in minnesota with solar panels at the optimal tilt angle of 45 degrees will produce around 6 148 kwh a year.
House south side wall or a south side of a pillar is the second most suitable place to install solar panels.
In philadelphia the annual production would be decreased by 33 still significant but easier to justify.
But what if you don t have a suitable south facing roof.
Solar panels should face south for any home in america to obtain maximum power generation.
As the solar panel is now mounted on the wall it can absorb sunlight reflected off of the wall.
Both options are for 14x300w panels and otherwise identical.
There are a number of other benefits included as well.
Arctic solar ventures of anchorage alaska regularly installs solar panels on south facing walls of buildings.