How to Design Dual tilt (East-West) Systems

Summary

OpenSolar’s dual-tilt (east-west) array design feature enables solar professionals to maximize daily energy production by capturing both morning and afternoon sunlight. This setup is ideal for flat roofs and space-constrained sites, such as urban buildings or ground-mounted systems, where traditional south- or north-facing arrays may not be feasible.

By using the east-west configuration, you can:

• Increase panel density

• Achieve a flatter energy yield curve

• Optimize the use of limited horizontal space

This guide walks you through how to configure a dual-tilt system in OpenSolar, using customizable settings to refine layout, spacing, and shading considerations.

Why Choose Dual-Tilt Design?

Unlike conventional single-azimuth systems, east-west (dual-tilt) configurations:

• Provide even energy distribution throughout the day

• Require lower tilt angles, reducing inter-row shading

• Allow denser module placement on flat surfaces, improving system yield per square meter

How to Configure a Dual-Tilt System in OpenSolar

Follow these steps to implement a dual-tilt design:

Access the Design Page

• Open your desired project and navigate to the Design tab.

 Add Panels

• Select the appropriate panel from your hardware library.

• Click the “+” button to place panels on the selected surface.

Change Racking Mode

• In the left-hand settings menu, change the Racking Mode from:

  • Flush ➝ Dual-Tilt

Set Ridge Direction

• Enter the Ridge Direction to define panel azimuth:

  • For standard east-west orientation, input: 180°

Adjust Tilt

• Modify the Relative Tilt angle to define the angle at which each side of the array faces the sun

Advanced Settings for Dual-Tilt

Navigate to the Advanced Settings tab to fine-tune your layout:

After entering your values, adjust panel quantities as needed to fill the available space efficiently.

Shading Analysis

• Go to the Shading tab in the panel settings.

• OpenSolar displays shading performance per azimuth:

  • Azimuth 1 (East-facing)

  • Azimuth 2 (West-facing)

Use this view to:

• Compare solar exposure between both sides of the tilt

• Identify any obstructions or self-shading impacts

• Optimize tilt angle and spacing accordingly

Example Configuration

Visual references in the OpenSolar interface include:

Basic Settings Menu

• Set panel tilt, azimuth, and racking mode.

Advanced Settings Menu

• Customize spacing, dimensions, and frame parameters.

Shading Tab

• View per-azimuth shading impacts and adjust the design as needed.

Final Tips:

• East-west systems work best on flat roofs or open ground spaces.

• Maintain enough valley spacing for service access and shading reduction.

• Use shading analysis to balance production between the east and west-facing sides.

• Consider regional sun path data when determining azimuth and tilt settings.

Video Walkthrough: