Artesia, New Mexico offers excellent conditions for year-round solar energy generation, making it a highly favorable location for solar PV installations. Located in the Northern Sub Tropics at coordinates 32.8402, -104.4058, this area benefits from abundant sunshine throughout most of the year.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output varies significantly across the seasons, with summer and spring being the peak production periods. Summer delivers the highest output at 7.62 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, while spring follows closely behind at 7.34 kWh per day per kW. These two seasons represent the ideal times for solar generation at this location. Autumn sees a notable decrease in production to 5.51 kWh per day per kW, while winter experiences the lowest output at 4.02 kWh per day per kW. Despite this winter reduction, the location still maintains reasonable solar production year-round, making it suitable for consistent energy generation.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For maximum year-round solar production at Artesia, fixed solar panels should be tilted at 29 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize total annual energy output by accounting for the sun's varying position throughout the year and the Earth's elliptical orbit around the sun.

Environmental Challenges and Solutions

Several local factors in Artesia could potentially impact solar energy production, though the region remains highly suitable for solar installations overall. Dust and sand accumulation presents the most significant challenge in this semi-arid desert region. The frequent winds and dry conditions can deposit layers of dust and fine sand particles on solar panels, reducing their efficiency over time. Regular cleaning schedules, ideally monthly or bi-monthly depending on local conditions, can help maintain optimal performance. Installing panels with anti-soiling coatings or self-cleaning surfaces can also reduce maintenance requirements. Severe weather events, while infrequent, can pose risks to solar installations. The area occasionally experiences intense thunderstorms with large hail, particularly during late spring and early summer. High winds from severe weather systems can also threaten panel integrity. Using reinforced mounting systems rated for high wind loads and installing panels with tempered glass designed to withstand hail impact can provide protection against these weather events. Temperature extremes, both hot summers and occasional cold snaps in winter, can affect panel efficiency and longevity. While solar panels actually perform better in cooler temperatures, the intense summer heat can reduce efficiency. Proper ventilation spacing beneath panels and choosing panels with good temperature coefficients can help mitigate heat-related performance losses. The high altitude and clear skies that contribute to excellent solar conditions also mean increased UV exposure, which can degrade panel materials over time. Selecting panels with UV-resistant materials and robust warranties can help ensure long-term performance in this high-radiation environment.

Note: The Northern Sub Tropics extend from 23.5° latitude North up to 35° 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 Artesia

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 32.8402, Longitude: -104.4058 (Artesia, 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 29° South in Artesia, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Artesia, United States (Lat/Long 32.8402, -104.4058) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 29° 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 Artesia, 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 Artesia, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 29° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
17° South in Summer	38° South in Autumn	48° South in Winter	26° 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 Artesia, 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 Artesia, United States.

Our calculation method

1. Solar Position:
   We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination.
2. Shadow Projection:
   We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle.
3. 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 Artesia, United States

Topographical Features of the Artesia Region

The landscape surrounding Artesia, New Mexico is characterized by relatively flat to gently rolling terrain that forms part of the broader Pecos River Valley. This area sits within the Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem, where the topography consists primarily of semi-arid plains with modest elevation changes across the region. The terrain gradually slopes from west to east, with the land descending toward the Pecos River corridor that runs north to south through the valley. The elevation in and around Artesia typically ranges from approximately 3,300 to 3,500 feet above sea level, creating a landscape that lacks dramatic topographical barriers or steep gradients. The western portions of the area feature slightly higher elevations with gentle rises toward the foothills, while the eastern sections slope more gradually toward the river valley. This creates an overall terrain profile that is remarkably consistent and predictable across large areas.

Surface Characteristics and Land Features

The surface geology of the Artesia region consists predominantly of sedimentary formations that have created relatively stable, level ground conditions. The area features expansive stretches of open land with minimal natural obstructions such as significant rock outcroppings, dense vegetation, or steep hillsides. The desert environment supports sparse vegetation, typically consisting of low-growing shrubs, grasses, and scattered desert plants that do not create substantial shading or height variations across the landscape. Natural drainage patterns in the region follow gentle depressions and arroyos that channel occasional rainfall toward the Pecos River system. These drainage features are generally shallow and widely spaced, leaving large uninterrupted areas of relatively flat terrain between them. The soil composition varies from sandy to clay-based sediments, with caliche layers present in some locations beneath the surface.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for extensive solar photovoltaic installations would be found on the broad, flat expanses that extend both north and south of Artesia along the valley floor. These areas offer the combination of level terrain, minimal vegetation, and large contiguous parcels of land that are essential for utility-scale solar development. The gentle topography eliminates the need for extensive grading or site preparation, while the open desert environment provides unobstructed sky exposure throughout the day. The western portions of the region, where the land begins its gradual rise toward higher elevations, also present excellent opportunities for solar development. These slightly elevated areas maintain the flat to gently sloping characteristics ideal for solar arrays while potentially offering improved drainage conditions. The consistent elevation changes across these western areas are gradual enough to accommodate large solar installations without requiring complex terrain modifications. Areas immediately adjacent to existing infrastructure corridors would be particularly advantageous for solar development, as they provide access to transmission lines and transportation networks essential for utility-scale projects. The region's overall lack of significant topographical challenges means that solar installations could potentially extend across vast areas with minimal site-specific constraints related to terrain features.

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!

Citation Guide

Article Details for Citation

Tell Us About Your Work

We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.

Feeling generous?

Share this with your friends!

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.