South-facing vs east-west panels: peak hours or a spread curve
Decisions built from South-facing array and East-west split — editorial analysis, no sales stake; each figure sourced or labeled in review.
South-facing makes the biggest midday spike; east-west trades that for a flatter whole-day curve. Under net billing or export caps, that shape — not the raw total — can be the better number.
At a glance: South-facing array vs East-west split
| South-facing array | East-west split | |
|---|---|---|
| Power shape | Big midday hump | Two humps: morning and evening |
| Total energy | Highest, classic | A bit less (in review) |
| Export worth | Big at noon | fits the evening load |
| Roof needs | One direction | Two faces (or none: ground) |
When South-facing array wins
- Classic net-metering markets — every kWh counts equally, maximize the output
- Simple one-face roof, simple design
When East-west split wins
- Export-capped or low-priced markets (California-style) — self-use is the prize
- Pairing with a battery — charge morning, power the evening peak
The honest verdict
'South or nothing' is true for full net metering and false for cap or cents-rate export markets. In capped markets, east-west plus battery self-consumption can beat a bigger south peak on paper. Ask the installer to run both proposals in the estimator before signing.
Where these figures come from
Federal credit rules from the IRS (accessed 2026-08-08); market prices from EnergySage 2026; export rates per state records cited on each state page (CPUC NEM 3 for California); typical-home usage EIA 2023. Anything verified carries its date; the rest says "in review" until confirmed.