The old rule that north-facing solar panels are always best in Australia is no longer true for most households. West-facing solar panels produce less total energy than north, but they generate it at the times of day when electricity is most expensive and self-consumption matters most — late afternoon and early evening. With time-of-use tariffs now standard across NSW, VIC, QLD, and SA, and feed-in tariffs falling below 5c/kWh in most states, the best solar panel orientation in Australia increasingly depends on when you use power, not just how much sun hits the panels. Here's how to decide between north, west, east, and split arrays for your home.
How Orientation Affects Annual Solar Yield
North-facing panels receive the most sun over a year in the Southern Hemisphere, making them the theoretical maximum. But east, west, and even south-facing panels still produce plenty of useful energy. These are the typical annual yields as a percentage of a perfectly-tilted north-facing array in Australian capital cities:
| Orientation | Sydney/Brisbane | Melbourne/Hobart | Perth | Peak Output Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North (optimal tilt) | 100% | 100% | 100% | 11am–1pm |
| North-East | 97% | 96% | 97% | 10am–12pm |
| East | 88% | 85% | 87% | 8am–10am |
| North-West | 97% | 96% | 97% | 1pm–3pm |
| West | 88% | 85% | 87% | 2pm–5pm |
| South-West | 75% | 70% | 76% | 3pm–5pm |
| South | 68% | 60% | 70% | 11am–1pm (low) |
A 6.6kW west-facing array in Sydney produces around 8,500 kWh/year compared to 9,700 kWh/year facing north — a 12% shortfall. But when that energy is produced, and what it offsets, is where west-facing panels often outperform.
Self-Consumption vs Feed-In: Why West Often Wins
The economics of rooftop solar have flipped over the past five years. In 2018, feed-in tariffs of 11–16c/kWh made every exported kWh valuable. In 2026, the average NSW feed-in tariff is 4–7c/kWh, while peak-period import prices on time-of-use plans are 45–65c/kWh. That means a kWh you self-consume during the peak window is worth 8–15 times more than one you export at noon.
Here's the real economic impact for a typical NSW household on a TOU tariff who's home from 3pm onwards (e.g. retirees, parents with school-age kids, shift workers, WFH households):
| Scenario (6.6kW system) | Annual Generation | Self-Consumption | Annual Bill Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| North-facing, low daytime occupancy | 9,700 kWh | 25% (2,425 kWh) | $1,450 |
| West-facing, evening-heavy use | 8,500 kWh | 55% (4,675 kWh) | $2,100 |
| Split N+W, evening-heavy use | 9,200 kWh | 45% (4,140 kWh) | $2,050 |
A west-facing system generates 12% less energy but delivers 45% more bill savings for an evening-heavy household. The lesson: orientation should follow your consumption pattern, not a generic rule.
State-Specific Sun Angles and Tilt
Optimal tilt equals your latitude minus roughly 5° for a slight summer bias. In practice, most Australian roofs are pitched between 15° and 25°, which is fine for all capitals:
- Darwin (NT): Latitude 12°. Near-horizontal mounting is optimal; west vs north yields are nearly identical (around 95%).
- Brisbane (QLD): Latitude 27°. West produces ~88% of north. Long daylight hours make west-facing excellent for evening loads.
- Sydney (NSW): Latitude 34°. West produces ~88%. TOU tariffs are universal, making west attractive.
- Adelaide (SA): Latitude 35°. West at ~87%. Extreme summer afternoon heat makes west useful for aircon-heavy households.
- Melbourne (VIC): Latitude 37°. West drops to ~85%. Lower sun angles penalise west more than northern cities.
- Perth (WA): Latitude 32°. West at ~87% and DEBS tariff structure rewards evening self-consumption heavily.
- Hobart (TAS): Latitude 42°. West at ~80%. North is clearly better here except for very evening-heavy households.
Split Arrays: The N+W Strategy
A split array — typically north and west, sometimes east and west — gives you the best of both worlds: strong midday generation plus a production tail into the afternoon and evening. The production curve becomes flatter and longer rather than a sharp midday peak. This matters because:
- More hours of useful output align with household consumption
- Less energy is exported at noon when feed-in tariffs are lowest
- Batteries charge more slowly but over a longer window, reducing clipping losses
- Export limit caps (e.g. 5kW single-phase in NSW) are hit less often, so fewer kWh are wasted
A typical 10kW split install might be 6kW north + 4kW west, or 5kW east + 5kW west. You'll need a dual-MPPT inverter — most modern Fronius, Sungrow, and GoodWe units support this at no extra cost. Expect a $300–$800 premium on the install for extra rails and cabling.
Shading and Roof Shape Considerations
Before committing to any orientation, map your shading. A single chimney, tree, or neighbour's gable shadow across a string of series-connected panels can wipe out 30–50% of that string's output. Your installer should perform a shading analysis using tools like Solmetric SunEye or a drone survey.
- Morning shade (east): Common from neighbours or trees to the east. Favours a west-heavy configuration.
- Afternoon shade (west): Western trees or buildings. Favours north-east or pure north.
- Panel-level electronics: Enphase microinverters or Tigo/SolarEdge optimisers mitigate shading losses for $1,500–$3,500 extra on a 6.6kW system.
- Hip roofs: Often force a split across three or four facets. Use panel-level electronics to isolate each face.
- Skillion or flat roofs: Tilt frames let you optimise orientation regardless of roof direction, but add $120–$200 per panel.
How Batteries and EVs Change the Calculation
Adding a battery (Tesla Powerwall 3, BYD Battery-Box, Sungrow SBR) or an EV charger (Zappi, Fronius Wattpilot, Tesla Wall Connector) dramatically changes the orientation math:
- With a battery: You can time-shift midday generation into the evening peak, which reduces the self-consumption advantage of west. North-facing becomes more attractive again because total kWh harvested is what matters most.
- With an EV and solar-aware charger: The Zappi, Wattpilot, and Ocular LTE all charge on surplus solar. More total generation = more free kilometres, so north-facing wins.
- With neither (solar only): West or split N+W almost always wins on TOU tariffs for households with evening consumption.
AEMO Trends Reshaping the Orientation Debate
AEMO's Integrated System Plan shows midday wholesale electricity prices going negative more frequently as rooftop solar penetration passes 40% of NEM generation on sunny days. Expect feed-in tariffs to keep falling — some retailers already offer zero feed-in tariffs in exchange for lower supply charges. Network operators in NSW and VIC are also rolling out export tariffs where you pay to export during solar soak hours.
Both trends strengthen the case for west-facing or split arrays. A kWh exported at 1pm in 2030 may be worth nothing — or cost you. A kWh self-consumed at 5pm will still offset a 50c/kWh peak charge. Orient your array for the grid of 2030, not 2015.
Model Your Orientation Choice
The difference between the right and wrong orientation decision can be $600–$1,200/year on a 6.6kW system, compounding for 25 years. Enter your actual consumption profile, TOU tariff, and roof options into our Solar ROI Calculator to see how north, west, east, and split configurations compare specifically for your household. You'll see exactly how each choice affects payback, 20-year savings, and the economics of adding a battery or EV later.