Post #2151589

2026-04-22 19:43 UTC

@reallyflygreg @AmeliasBrain @Daveography I think vertical solar panels can take in a bunch of reflected light as well, especially if the building is tall. If your panels are roof mounted it basically never makes sense to aim them north but the calculation is different for opportunistic vertical.

Replies (2)

@AmeliasBrain@mstdn.ca 2026-04-22 21:18

@megmac @reallyflygreg @Daveography That's true. All it takes is for someone to build a reflective-glass skyscraper on the block to the north & suddenly they'd be getting a lot more light on that side! And we do get morning & evening sunlight on the north side of buildings in Edmonton, for half the year anyway. It's low-angle, but vertical panels on a tall building would get it direct — at least until those other towers farther north are built!

Open ##2151590
@Chigaze@cosocial.ca 2026-04-22 21:44

@megmac When we put panels on our new house I was thinking onto our garage that was south facing but the installation company said we'd be better off putting them on both sides of our roof. One side is straight east, the other straight west. Given our summer sun rises in the north east and sets in the north west it actually maximized our sun exposure over the year. @reallyflygreg @AmeliasBrain @Daveography

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