Outdoor photoreactor performance is decided twice, once in the design office and once in the installation. The same hardware on two sites, or on the same site facing two directions, delivers annual energy totals that differ by double-digit percentages. Siting is engineering, not logistics.
In the northern hemisphere, south-facing captures the most annual energy (mirrored north-facing in the south). Optimal fixed tilt sits near the site latitude, steeper tilts trade summer peak for winter steadiness, choose by whether the campaign prioritizes total energy or season-long availability. Trackers add capture, typically a quarter to a third over fixed mounts, at the price of mechanism and maintenance.
Shading first: survey the horizon for buildings and vegetation across seasons, a tree that grows into the beam is a slow-motion failure. Ground stability and drainage for the mounting structure; wind exposure for structural loading; access for maintenance vehicles and sampling personnel; and security, outdoor equipment invites curiosity.
Mount structures rated for the site's wind and snow loads; foundations or ballast matched to soil; electrical and instrument cabling in UV-rated conduit with watertight glands; and walkways for safe access to everything that needs a human. Everything serviceable should be serviceable without a ladder and a prayer.
Structural inspection before commissioning; pressure-system verification for pressurized loops; chemical storage and spill containment sized to the working fluids; emergency procedures posted where operators actually stand; and a commissioning test sequence that records baseline performance, the reference for every future comparison.
For siting support and outdoor hardware, see Perfectlight's outdoor systems and engineering solutions.
