Solar panels do need to be tilted or placed on a pitch because your panels will produce maximum energy when the sun is directly perpendicular to them. The ideal roof pitch for solar panels in the northern hemisphere is between 30 degrees and 45 degrees facing south. Tyler Tucker, chief development officer at Astrawatt Solar, says that if the majority of your solar panels are facing north, you’re “going to have to spend 50% to 60% more to get the same amount of output from [your] system.” Unless your available roof space faces south, east, or west it, “financially… doesn’t make a lot of sense” to get solar panels.