Solar Panel Angle Guide
Solar Panel Angle in San Antonio
locationPage.latitudeLineHere's the optimal solar panel tilt and orientation for maximum energy production.
Year-Round Tilt
28.7°
Summer Tilt
14.4°
Winter Tilt
44.4°
Face
South
180° azimuth
Monthly Optimal Tilts for San Antonio
Jan
49.7°
Feb
41.2°
Mar
29.4°
Apr
17.7°
May
9.1°
Jun
6.0°
Jul
9.1°
Aug
17.7°
Sep
29.4°
Oct
41.2°
Nov
49.7°
Dec
52.9°
Peak Sun Hours
5.5 hrs/day
Average daily solar insolation
Annual Production (400W panel)
~803 kWh
At 28.7° tilt, facing South
Solar Panel Recommendations for San Antonio
- Fixed mount: Set your panels at 28.7° tilt, facing South (180° azimuth).
- Seasonal adjustment: Tilt to 14.4° in summer and 44.4° in winter for up to 15% more annual energy.
- Monthly adjustment: Adjust tilt each month using the table above for maximum year-round production.
Solar in South Texas' Alamo City
San Antonio receives approximately 4.5 peak sun hours daily with over 220 sunny days per year, placing it solidly within Texas' strong solar belt. The South Texas climate produces hot, humid summers and mild winters, providing consistent year-round solar production. CPS Energy serves the city and offers net metering and solar rebate programs for residential customers.
The primary challenge for San Antonio solar installations is summer heat — temperatures regularly exceed 38°C (100°F), which can reduce panel efficiency by 8-12% on the hottest days. Ensuring 4-6 inches of airflow beneath panels and selecting modules with low temperature coefficients helps mitigate these losses. Hail risk during spring storms is another consideration, though modern panels are tested to withstand 1-inch hail at moderate velocity.
San Antonio's housing stock is diverse, ranging from historic homes near the River Walk with Spanish tile roofs to newer suburban developments with composite shingle roofs. CPS Energy's solar incentives, combined with the federal ITC, produce typical payback periods of 7-11 years.
Orientation Performance
Panel orientation significantly affects energy production. The table below shows relative output compared to true south-facing panels:
| Orientation | Relative Output |
|---|---|
| South | 100% |
| Southeast | 96% |
| Southwest | 96% |
| East | 85-90% |
| West | 85-90% |
| North | 60-75% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CPS Energy offer solar incentives in San Antonio?
Yes. CPS Energy offers net metering and solar rebate programs for residential customers, helping reduce payback periods to 7-11 years.
Related Calculators
Solar Panel Tilt Calculator
Calculate optimal tilt for any latitude and month
Solar Panel Azimuth Calculator
Find the exact compass heading for your panels
Get precision alignment with SolarAlign Pro
Use your phone's sensors to align your panels to the exact angle calculated here.Learn more →