Solar panel angle in Mbuji-Mayi
In Mbuji-Mayi, fixed panels collect the most energy over a year tilted 6° from horizontal and facing north. But anything between 0° and 15° is within 2% of the best, so the pitch you already have is probably fine.
What is your roof worth?
Every roof, scored
Percentage of the maximum possible annual yield, for each combination of orientation and pitch in Mbuji-Mayi.
| Roof faces | 0° | 15° | 30° | 45° | 60° | 90° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North | 100% | 99% | 93% | 82% | 66% | 37% |
| North-east / north-west | 100% | 99% | 93% | 83% | 71% | 45% |
| East / west | 100% | 97% | 91% | 82% | 72% | 51% |
| South-east / south-west | 100% | 96% | 87% | 76% | 63% | 39% |
| South | 100% | 95% | 85% | 70% | 53% | 28% |
Where "tilt equals your latitude" happens to work
The rule of thumb says tilt your panels at your latitude — 6° for Mbuji-Mayi. The real optimum is 6°, so here the rule happens to be about right.
The rule breaks down further from the equator, where the optimum falls increasingly below the latitude — by around 10 degrees at 50°, and 15 by 65°. Close to the equator the two happen to coincide, so here the rule of thumb is genuinely fine.
Seasonal angles
If you can adjust your panels twice a year, these are the angles to use. Most people should not bother — the gain is small and the ladder is real.
| Setting | Tilt | Facing |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed, all year | 6° | north |
| Summer | 0° | north |
| Winter | 32° | north |
| Flat on the ground | 0° | — |
A flat installation here keeps 100% of the maximum; mounted vertically on a wall, 37%.
Other cities in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Assumptions
- These are angles and percentages, never kilowatt-hours. Optimal angles are driven by geometry and are robust. Absolute energy output depends on measured irradiance, cloud, soiling and hardware, none of which are modelled here.
- Clear sky, no shading. Trees, chimneys, neighbouring buildings and terrain are ignored, and they can dominate everything on this page.
- Fixed panels. Trackers follow the sun and change the answer entirely.
- Ordinary ground. Reflectance is taken as 0.2, typical for grass and soil. Snow reflects far more and favours steeper tilts.