Sizing · 3 min read · 3 October 2026
How Much Does Shade Affect Solar Panels?
Shade on even part of a panel can cut output across a whole string. Here is how shade affects solar, and how design, optimisers and layout reduce the loss.
Read article →Sizing · 3 min read
Is an East-West Roof Good for Solar Panels?
Quick answer
Yes, an east-west roof can work well. It produces a lower midday peak than a north-facing roof but spreads solar across the morning and afternoon, which matches when many families use power. It usually takes a few more panels to make the same daily total.
What changes with an east-west layout?
A north-facing roof makes a tall midday peak. An east-west layout makes two smaller humps: the east panels catch the morning sun, the west panels the afternoon. Added together, the day's output is flatter and wider.
Why might that suit my home?
- Morning and late-afternoon use. Breakfast, school runs and the after-school period are covered better.
- Less midday export. A flatter curve sends less power to the grid at noon, when feed-in rates are low and export limits bite.
- Battery charging over a longer window. The battery fills more steadily.
Is there a catch?
Each east or west panel makes a little less over a day than the same panel facing north. To match a north-facing system's daily total, you usually need a few more panels. On most homes that is fine, because east and west faces together often have more room than one north face.
What else matters on an east-west roof?
- Roof pitch. Low-pitched roofs lose less by facing east or west.
- Shade. Trees and neighbouring buildings affect morning or afternoon sun on one side.
- Inverter inputs. Panels facing different ways are usually wired to separate inputs so each side performs at its best.
A real example
We installed 12 kW of Jinko panels with a 32 kWh Sigenergy battery in Andrews Farm. Larger systems like this often spread across more than one roof face; the inverter manages each group of panels separately, and the battery smooths out the evening.
The answer for your roof
East-west roofs are a good option, not a compromise, for most homes. At the inspection we check each roof face, the shading through the day and the inverter design, then recommend the layout that suits how you use power.
Related project
A real Panda Power install that shows this topic in practice.
What it costs
Home batteries from $6,999 to about $15,999
base prices after rebates, inc GST, as at October 2026
What affects the price: battery size, brand and inverter, whether you already have solar, backup wiring, and any additional work at your home.
Base price for a standard install, after government rebates, inc GST, as at October 2026. Additional work such as switchboard upgrades, three-phase changes or complex installs is reviewed and quoted separately.
FAQs
Is north always best?
North gives the most total output from each panel in Australia. But east and west faces can match a home's usage better, and using both often fills a roof that a single north face could not.
Do I need two inverters for east and west panels?
Not usually. Many inverters can take panels on different faces through separate inputs. The design depends on the inverter and the number of panels on each side.
What about a south-facing roof?
South faces get the least sun in Australia. They are usually a last option, used only when other faces are full or shaded.
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Written by the Panda Power team from our own installs and the questions customers ask us.
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Install before 1 January 2027