Solar Panels on East-West Roofs

Two slopes instead of one

An east-west split puts panels on both sides of the ridge. Peak output is lower than a south-facing array of the same size, but generation is spread across the morning and the evening rather than concentrated at midday.

Why that can suit you better

If you are out at midday, a south-facing array's peak lands when nobody is home and much of it gets exported. An east-west spread lines up better with breakfast and evening use, which lifts self-consumption even though total generation is lower.

The design implications

Two orientations usually means two strings, and a hybrid or dual-MPPT inverter to handle them. Panel-level electronics are sometimes specified, though on a clean east-west roof with no shading they are often not necessary.