What is the optimal tilt angle for modules in MA and NY?
There is an old “rule-of-thumb” circulating that says the optimal angle of inclination for absorbing solar radiation is latitude of the location plus 15 degrees for winter optimization, or latitude minus 15 degrees for summer optimization. The use of the rule resulted in many of the dramatically tilted solar thermal panels you see on homes in New England (Most of MA is near 42 degrees north latitude, putting winter optimal inclination at 57 degrees). However, in order to truly address the question there are a number of factors to be considered beyond solar performance; wind loads, snow loads, snow shedding, and aesthetics are all important considerations. Optimal solar performance is not as simple as differentiating between summer and winter; if your system is grid-connected and you are primarily interested in deferring carbon production you may want to optimize for summer while another grid-connected system owner might prefer to optimize for year round production. For off grid remote
