Adelaide University researchers suggest east-west solar panel orientation

Researchers from Adelaide University have found that orienting rooftop solar panels toward the east and west, rather than north, can help mitigate the ‘duck curve’ and improve electricity grid stability in Australia.

While solar panels are typically mounted facing the equator to maximize total annual energy yield, researchers Kirrilie Rowe and Peter Pudney noted that this orientation creates a power peak in the middle of the day that does not align with traditional residential load profiles. Residential demand typically peaks in the morning and late afternoon or evening.

By adjusting the orientation, households can better match energy generation with their actual usage, increasing self-sufficiency and reducing the need for non-renewable energy from the grid. The study analyzed three years of data from over 70 dwellings and an apartment building in South Australia, a region where solar and wind provide more than 70% of annual generation.