Which direction should solar panels face?
The sun sits in the northern sky for all of Australia south of the tropics, so north-facing panels catch the most light. The Clean Energy Regulator's zone ratings assume a well-placed system, so a north roof with a reasonable tilt comes closest to them.
| Direction | Yearly output | When it peaks |
|---|---|---|
| North | Highest | Around midday |
| North-east or north-west | Close to north | Late morning or early afternoon |
| East or west | Lower | Morning or afternoon |
| South | Lowest, worst in winter | Midday, flattened |
With feed-in tariffs low, timing matters more than it used to. A west-facing array makes power later in the day, closer to the evening peak, which can be worth more on a time-of-use plan even though the total is lower.
Tilt
The ideal fixed tilt for yearly output is close to your latitude: steeper in Hobart, flatter in Darwin. On a typical pitched roof, mounting the panels flush with the roof usually works well enough that tilt frames are rarely worth the cost. On flat roofs, a small tilt helps rain wash the panels clean.
Dealing with shade
Map the shade across the year
Winter shadows are much longer than summer ones. Trees, chimneys, antennas and neighbouring buildings all count.
Keep panels out of regular shade
It is usually better to leave a shaded section empty than fill it with panels.
Use panel-level electronics where shade is unavoidable
Microinverters or optimisers stop one shaded panel pulling down the rest. See microinverters vs string inverters.
Split strings by roof face
On a string inverter, panels on different faces should be on separate inputs (MPPTs) so they do not hold each other back.
Ask for an output estimate per roof face
A good quote shows expected output for each roof face. Compare it with the CER figures in our solar calculator.
Common questions
North, for the most output across a year. North-east and north-west are close behind. East and west make less in total but more in the morning or afternoon.
Often, yes. They make less in total than north-facing panels, but more in the late afternoon, when homes use more power and time-of-use rates are higher.
You can, but output is noticeably lower, especially in winter in southern Australia. Use north, east and west faces first.
Sources
Rules and program details come from government sources. Prices are industry averages, named and dated where used. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.