Which way should solar panels face in Brisbane?

Panels facing (15° tilt)	Per kW, per year	6.6 kW system	vs north	Summer / winter per kW
North	1,507 kWh	9,944 kWh	100%	399 / 345 kWh
East	1,355 kWh	8,944 kWh	90%	397 / 271 kWh
West	1,361 kWh	8,981 kWh	90%	401 / 270 kWh
South	1,197 kWh	7,897 kWh	79%	400 / 190 kWh

Modelled AC output from a typical weather year for central Brisbane (2005–2023 PVGIS data), 14% system losses plus inverter losses, no shading.

Is east or west better in Brisbane?

In Brisbane it barely matters. East and west facing panels at 15° make almost exactly the same energy over a year, about 90% of a north facing roof. The real difference is timing.

On a clear summer day in Brisbane, north facing panels peak around 12:00, east facing panels around 11:00 and west facing panels around 13:00 (local standard time, so add an hour during daylight saving where it applies). If you use most of your power in the afternoon, or you want a battery full before the evening peak, west facing panels line up with that better than the annual numbers suggest.

Are south facing panels worth it in Brisbane?

Usually, yes. South facing panels at 15° make about 1,200 kWh per kW a year in Brisbane, which is 79% of the same panels facing north. At the Solar Choice price index figure of $0.88 to $0.95 per watt installed, that energy works out to roughly 3.1c to 3.4c per kWh over 25 years. That is around what retailers typically pay for exported solar, and a small fraction of what grid power costs, so extra panels on the south side generally pay their way.

In summer the sun rises and sets well to the south of east and west, and in Brisbane it climbs almost straight overhead at midday. So south facing panels actually make about the same as north facing ones from December to February, then drop to about 55% of north in winter.

Flatter is better on a south facing roof. At 5° a south facing layout in Brisbane makes about 88% of a north facing system at 15°. Check that your inverter has room for the extra panels and how much your network lets you export before you commit.

What is the best tilt for solar panels in Brisbane?

Facing north, the tilt that makes the most energy over a year in Brisbane is about 30°, but it only adds about 3% over a 15° roof. A common 22.5° pitch gets 99% of the best possible. In other words, use the roof pitch you have. Tilt frames on a pitched roof almost never pay for themselves. The Solar Panel Angle Calculator shows the full picture for any direction and tilt.

How much does solar output change through the year in Brisbane?

A lot. North facing panels in Brisbane make about 399 kWh per kW over summer and about 345 kWh over winter, so winter output is roughly 87% of summer. That is a smaller swing than the southern capitals, because Brisbane sits further north where the winter sun is higher.

Where do these numbers come from?

They are modelled with the same engine as the Solar Panel Orientation Comparison, using a typical meteorological year from PVGIS, the solar database run by the European Commission Joint Research Centre. Each hour of the year is worked through for every panel direction, then reduced for panel heat, 14% system losses and a 96% efficient inverter. Your own roof will differ with shading, panel brand and exact location, so treat these as a guide rather than a quote.

Other cities

See the same comparison for Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and Darwin, or read which way solar panels should face in Australia for the national picture. Outside Australia, there are city by city results for the UK and the US.

Common questions