Well when it comes to solar panels west is second best.
Solar panels south facing wall.
However solar panels can be orientated on any roof that faces south of either east or west.
Solar arrays cannot always occupy a customer s rooftop but ground mount systems might not be the only other backup option in these cases.
Panels mounted on a standard pitch roof facing east or west will produce approximately 15 less output than panels mounted on a south facing roof of a standard pitch.
Updated may 18 2020.
Therefore directions like southwest or southeast are fine.
Although this is more unusual some people choose to mount panels on a south facing wall.
Both options are for 14x300w panels and otherwise identical.
Solar panels should face south for any home in america to obtain maximum power generation.
This is less expensive and also gives easy access to the panels if you need to clean them brush off snow or do any other maintenance.
If you have space in your yard the panels can also be mounted on the ground.
Here are simulations for roof at 30 degrees facing south and mounted vertically on wall facing south.
Installers have adapted pre existing mounting and racking technology or developed their own to install solar panels on the south facing walls of buildings.
In the northern hemisphere the sun crosses the sky a little to the south which means putting solar panels on a south facing roof is the best way for homeowners to capture the most solar energy.
Wall mounted solar arrays produce less but work in a pinch.
Wall mounted vertical panels are still an energy generating option for solar installers.
Also there will be more risk of shade on the wall.