Solar azimuth
The sun’s clockwise direction from true north.
Free engineering toolPublic beta
SolarDev Solar Geometry Tool
Calculate solar azimuth, elevation, daily solar events and indicative flat-ground shading for a selected location, date and local time. Explore the geometry directly on satellite imagery and export the daily solar path.
Barcelona, Spain
41.3874°, 2.1686°
↗ Sun 146.7°↙ Shading 326°
Sunrise 08:3010:30Sunset 17:15
Solar elevation
Local time · degrees00:0006:0012:0018:0024:00
Direction compass
True northNSWE
Click anywhere on the map to reposition the analysis.
1. LocateSearch an address, paste coordinates or click the map.
2. ExploreChange date and time to inspect sun and shading direction.
3. Share or exportCopy the scenario URL or download the daily values as CSV.
Solar geometry
What the calculator shows
Solar elevation
The sun’s angular height above the calculated horizon.
Solar zenith
The angular distance between the sun and the vertical direction.
Daily events
Indicative sunrise, sunset and daylight period for the selected day.
Shading length
Flat-ground shadow length for the selected vertical object height.
Daily profile
A chart and CSV series of solar elevation and azimuth through the day.
Calculation method
Indicative sun and shadow geometry
Solar position uses the NOAA fractional-year approximation with the selected coordinates, date, local clock time and editable UTC offset. The daily path and events are sampled at 15-minute intervals. Azimuth uses true geographic north rather than magnetic north.
For positive solar elevation, the tool applies the flat-ground relationship L = H / tan(α), where H is vertical object height and α is solar elevation. Shading direction is opposite the solar azimuth.
Screening limitations
Not a detailed PV shading study
- —Confirm the UTC offset and daylight-saving treatment for the selected date.
- —Ground slope, terrain and horizon obstructions are not modelled.
- —Object width, PV table geometry and row-to-row shading are not included.
- —Map vectors are visual direction indicators and are not drawn to geographic scale.
- —Tracker rotation, backtracking and diffuse irradiance are not simulated.
- —Use verified engineering software and site data for design decisions.
Sun-position and shading FAQs
What is solar azimuth?
Solar azimuth is the horizontal compass direction of the sun, expressed clockwise from true north: 0° north, 90° east, 180° south and 270° west.
What is solar elevation?
Solar elevation is the angle of the sun above the horizon. Low elevation produces longer flat-ground shadows; negative elevation means the sun is below the calculated horizon.
How is shading length calculated?
For a vertical object on flat ground, indicative shadow length is calculated as object height divided by the tangent of solar elevation. The result does not account for terrain, ground slope, object width or horizon obstructions.
Does this replace a detailed PV shading study?
No. The tool is for solar-geometry screening. Detailed PV design requires verified time-zone inputs, terrain and horizon data, table geometry, row spacing, tracking behaviour and an appropriate simulation method.
Apply the solar geometry within a candidate site screen or continue with the wider development methodology.