Plane orientation

To accurately calculate the radiation components on an inclined plane, you can define the orientation and inclination of a surface (e.g. solar panel). These parameters are crucial for determining the global, direct, and diffuse irradiance on tilted surfaces, as well as the projected PV production.

The azimuth angle defines the horizontal orientation of the surface. It is the angle between True North and the projection of the surface's normal vector onto the horizontal plane. In Meteonorm, the geographical azimuth definition is used, where:

• 0° = North
• 90° = East
• 180° = South
• 270° = West

This definition represents a change from version 8.2 and earlier.

The inclination (or tilt) angle is the angle between the solar panel's surface and the horizontal plane. It ranges from 0° (horizontal) to 90° (vertical).