Solar PV Analysis of Akron, United States
Akron, Ohio is a decent location for generating solar energy throughout the year, but it's not perfect. The amount of electricity you can generate from solar panels here changes with each season.
In summer and spring, you can expect to produce quite a bit of power - 6.00 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in the summer and 5.40 kWh/day in the spring for every kilowatt (kW) of solar power installed. That means that these seasons are the best times to generate solar energy in Akron because there's plenty of sunlight.
However, things change as we move into autumn and winter when days become shorter and there's less sunlight available. You'll only be able to produce about half as much electricity during these seasons - around 3.29 kWh/day in autumn and even less at 1.79 kWh/day during winter for every kW installed.
To make sure your panels get as much sun exposure as possible throughout all four seasons, they should be tilted at an angle of about 35 degrees facing south if they're fixed installations.
As far as local factors that might affect your ability to generate solar power go, Akron does have some challenges due its weather patterns which include cloudy skies frequently especially during winter months which could reduce the amount of sunlight hitting your panels significantly affecting their efficiency or output potential.
In addition to this Akron experiences snowfall during winters which could potentially cover up your panels reducing their capacity or even damaging them under heavy snow loads if not properly managed .
It would therefore be wise while installing your panels in such locations to consider having a system where you can easily remove any snow build-up on them without damaging them .
Another strategy would be using black-colored or dark-colored panels that absorb more heat from sunlight; this will help melt off any accumulated snow faster thus ensuring continuous operation for longer periods .
Also consider investing in durable high-efficiency PV modules designed specifically for such harsh weather conditions to ensure optimal performance year-round.
So while Akron, Ohio is not the most ideal location for solar power, with careful planning and consideration of local factors, you can still generate a reasonable amount of electricity from solar panels here.
Note: The Northern Temperate Zone extends from 35° latitude North up to 66.5° latitude.
So far, we have conducted calculations to evaluate the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in 4253 locations across the United States. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in the United States by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Akron
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 41.0708, Longitude: -81.5511 (Akron, United States), based on our analysis of 8760 hourly intervals of solar and meteorological data (one whole year) retrieved for that set of coordinates/location from NASA POWER (The Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources) API:
Ideally tilt fixed solar panels 35° South in Akron, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Akron, United States (Lat/Long 41.0708, -81.5511) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 35° South for fixed panel installations.
As the Earth revolves around the Sun each year, the maximum angle of elevation of the Sun varies by +/- 23.45 degrees from its equinox elevation angle for a particular latitude. Finding the exact optimal angle to maximise solar PV production throughout the year can be challenging, but with careful consideration of historical solar energy and meteorological data for a certain location, it can be done precisely.
We use our own calculation, which incorporates NASA solar and meteorological data for the exact Lat/Long coordinates, to determine the ideal tilt angle of a solar panel that will yield maximum annual solar output. We calculate the optimal angle for each day of the year, taking into account its contribution to the yearly total PV potential at that specific location.
Seasonally adjusted solar panel tilt angles for Akron, United States
If you can adjust the tilt angle of your solar PV panels, please refer to the seasonal tilt angles below for optimal solar energy production in Akron, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 35° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25° South in Summer | 44° South in Autumn | 55° South in Winter | 34° South in Spring |
Our recommendations take into account more than just latitude and Earth's position in its elliptical orbit around the Sun. We also incorporate historical solar and meteorological data from NASA's Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources (POWER) API to assign a weight to each ideal angle for each day based on its historical contribution to overall solar PV potential during a specific season.
This approach allows us to provide much more accurate recommendations than relying solely on latitude, as it considers unique weather conditions in different locations sharing the same latitude worldwide.
Calculate solar panel row spacing in Akron, United States
We've added a feature to calculate minimum solar panel row spacing by location. Enter your panel size and orientation below to get the minimum spacing in Akron, United States.
Our calculation method
- Solar Position:
We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination. - Shadow Projection:
We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle. - Minimum Spacing:
We add the shadow length to the horizontal space occupied by tilted panels.
This approach ensures maximum space efficiency while avoiding shading during critical times, as the Winter solstice represents the worst-case scenario for shadow length.
Topography for solar PV around Akron, United States
Akron, Ohio is located in the Great Lakes region of the United States and its topography can be described as a mix of flat plains and rolling hills. The city itself is relatively urbanized with numerous buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. The surrounding areas consist of suburban residential zones interspersed with agricultural fields and forests.
For large-scale solar PV installations, you would ideally want to look for open spaces that are relatively flat to maximize sunlight exposure throughout the day. Here are some potential suitable areas around Akron:
1. Rural Areas: There are several rural areas in Summit County where Akron is situated which could potentially be used for large-scale solar projects.
2. Farmland: With appropriate permissions and considerations, farmlands could also serve as locations for solar farms without significantly impacting their primary use.
3. Landfills or Brownfields: These sites have been previously used or disturbed (e.g., old industrial sites), so installing solar panels here can provide renewable energy while also repurposing land that might not otherwise be utilized.
4. Rooftops: While not necessarily "large scale" in terms of ground-mounted arrays, there's significant potential for rooftop solar installations on commercial or industrial buildings within Akron city limits.
5. Unused Public Lands: Sometimes municipalities will have unused parcels of land that aren't suitable for building but may work well for a solar farm.
It should be noted that any decisions about where to place such an installation should take into account factors such as local zoning laws, proximity to power grids (for easy connection), environmental impacts (especially on wildlife or sensitive habitats), and community acceptance/support among others.
Finally remember that while Ohio does get less sun than states like Arizona or California due to its latitude and cloudy weather especially during winter months; it still receives enough sunlight throughout the year making it feasible for successful operation of Solar PV systems.
United States solar PV Stats as a country
United States ranks 2nd in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 95,209 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 3.40% of United States's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 26th in the world). Each year United States is generating 289 Watts from solar PV per capita (United States ranks 15th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in United States?
Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in the United States. These include federal tax credits, state and local rebates, net metering policies, and renewable energy certificates (RECs). Additionally, many states have enacted legislation that requires utilities to purchase a certain amount of electricity from renewable sources such as solar.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in United States? Please reach out to us and help us keep this information current. Thanks!
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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Monday 10th of June 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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Compare this location to others worldwide for solar PV potential
The solar PV analyses available on our website, including this one, are offered as a free service to the global community. Our aim is to provide education and aid informed decision-making regarding solar PV installations.
However, please note that these analyses are general guidance and may not meet specific project requirements. For in-depth, tailored forecasts and analysis crucial for feasibility studies or when pursuing maximum ROI from your solar projects, feel free to contact us; we offer comprehensive consulting services expressly for this purpose.
Helping you assess viability of solar PV for your site
Calculate Your Optimal Solar Panel Tilt Angle: A Comprehensive Guide
Enhance your solar panel's performance with our in-depth guide. Determine the best tilt angle using hard data, debunk common misunderstandings, and gain insight into how your specific location affects solar energy production.
