Interactive exhibit

WHILE THE SUN SHINES

With a solar panel on your roof, you can generate your own electricity and warm your home. Test which location, orientation and roof pitch allow a house to ‘harvest’ the most solar energy.

Place the houses on the round contact points. Align them so that the solar panels on the roofs capture as much sunlight as possible.
Use the dial to simulate the Sun’s path throughout the day. Look at the displays: how much electricity do the houses generate?
Play around with the position and orientation of the houses: where and with what roof pitch do they generate the most electricity?
Place the trees: what do you need to watch out for?

EXPLANATION: A STEEP ADVANTAGE!

Whether on a roof or in a field, a solar power system should ideally face south. It is also crucial that it is not shaded by trees or buildings during
the day. The highest electricity yield is achieved when the Sun’s rays hit the panels at a right angle. At this angle of incidence, hardly any sunlight is lost through reflection. For the Sun’s path in Switzerland, the optimal angle of inclination for a solar panel is 20 to 40 degrees, which matches the usual inclination of house roofs in Switzerland.

In addition: The cleaner the panels are, the more sunlight they can convert into electricity. Mounting panels at a certain angle helps the rain wash off the dirt and makes it easier to remove snow in winter.

Further information about the exhibit