Your Guide to Solar Panel Orientation in Perth

Why Solar Orientation Matters for Perth Homes

Whether you live in sunny Perth or other parts of Australia, solar orientation (the direction and angle of your solar panels) can make a significant difference between optimal and mediocre system output. This in turn greatly impacts the cost-savings in your electricity bill, especially during different seasons throughout the year.

By considering what would be the best solar orientation for your home, you should ideally reap the most sunlight, feed‑in tariff earnings, and maximise the benefits of your 25‑years future investment.

Below we break down what north facing, west facing, east facing and even south facing solar panels really mean for everyday WA homeowners.

North-Facing Solar Panels – The Ideal Solution

In the Southern Hemisphere as we are here in Perth, North facing solar panels deliver the highest energy yield – up to 100 % of their rated output during the middle of the day.

With the sun trajectory high across the northern sky, a true‑north orientation at the right latitude angle (Perth is about 30° tilt) enables panels to get maximum irradiance.

The benefits of North-facing solar panels include:

• Greatest annual output (ideal for day long loads such as pool pumps or air‑conditioning).
• Faster payback time thanks to minimised home energy consumption.
• Ideally a cleaner, simpler solar system installation without the use of special mounting equipment needed.

Tip: If your roof angle is not perfect and differs by a few degrees off due north, don’t worry. A 10-15° deviation only reduces output by ~1 %, well within Clean Energy Council guidelines.

What if your house roof does not face North?

We in the industry wished for many years that architects paid a little more attention to roof orientations when designing houses, knowing the major difference a little design element would make during the long-life time of a house.

But as we have all noticed by now, not every roof offers a perfect North pitch direction.

What then?

It’s not the end of the world or solar panels for that matter as this also carries advantages while still reaching 85-90% of maximum output. The trade offs are mainly in Winter where the shorter days would put you slightly at a disadvantage. But during mid-season and Summer the east-west facing system will provide longer output hours with optimal generation from early morning till late in the evening.

Especially in Perth where the days start heating up towards the middle of the day and stay hot well into the evening, having your solar powering your aircon as long as possible is a bonus that north facing solar panels on a house don’t enjoy.

East-Facing Solar Panels

Ideal for households using power early – breakfast kettles, morning study, or a 7am heat‑pump hot‑water start. Solar panels get low‑angle sunshine from dawn till noon.

West-Facing Solar Panels

Perfect for families getting home after 3pm. West-facing solar panels yield more electricity in late afternoon, covering kids’ devices, dinner prep, and evening air‑con before sunset. They also line up nicely with higher late‑day feed‑in tariffs some retailers offer.

So the best solution is usually panels being split between East and West and usually putting slightly more on the west for lifestyle reasons.

South-Facing Solar Panels

What if your roof only has room for south-facing solar panels?

No need to despair. We have tilts and reverse tilt legs for situations like these. However if the roof pitch is not too steep some people opt not to use the tilt legs and are happy to compromise on a little loss with the aesthetic look of the house. Especially if you are not too far from the equator.

Such compromises are unavoidable when the following occurs:

• Limited roof space elsewhere on heritage cottages or skillion roofs.
• Winter‑heavy businesses that run heaters and lights through short days.
• Oversized systems targeting summer export plus acceptable winter yield.

Expect roughly 20-25 % lower annual electricity production versus north, so always run our free e‑Solar sizing calculator to confirm payback before committing.

Quick Checklist: Finding the Best Solar Orientation for Your Roof

1. Map your daily energy curve: morning, midday, or afternoon heavy?
2. Inspect roof pitches: North, West, East, or South – note any shading.
3. Aim for 30° tilt on north: 15-35° works fine on other aspects.
4. Consider split arrays to balance east-west loads.
5. Use CEC-accredited designers (like e‑Solar – your trusted local solar company) to model accurate yields and rebates.

Why Trust e‑Solar to Install Solar Panels in the Most Efficient Orientation?

Since 2003, e‑Solar has helped over 9,000 Perth families unlock clean energy savings with tailored advice, premium Tier 1 panels, and lifetime local support. Our team of Clean Energy Council accredited designers checks every roof, ensuring the best solar orientation for maximum return.

Ready to discover how North, West, East or South facing solar panels could work for you? Call our friendly team on (08) 6363 5420 or request your free, no‑obligation quote today.

Let’s harness the Perth sun whichever way your roof faces!