Baldwin, New York, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers varying potential for solar energy generation throughout the year. This Long Island community experiences significant seasonal fluctuations in solar production that prospective solar adopters should understand.

Seasonal Solar Production

Solar panels in Baldwin generate their highest output during summer months, producing an average of 6.13kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows closely behind with 5.65kWh/day per installed kilowatt. Production decreases substantially in autumn to 3.63kWh/day, and reaches its lowest point in winter with just 2.14kWh/day per kilowatt of capacity.

This seasonal pattern means Baldwin residents can expect roughly three times more solar energy production in summer compared to winter months. The substantial spring and summer production can help offset the reduced output during fall and winter.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Baldwin, the ideal tilt angle is 35 degrees facing South. This specific angle maximizes year-round energy production by optimizing the panels' exposure to the sun's changing position throughout the seasons.

Environmental Considerations

Several environmental factors in Baldwin may affect solar production. Being a coastal community on Long Island, Baldwin experiences occasional coastal storms and hurricanes that can temporarily reduce solar output. Additionally, winter snowfall can cover panels and reduce generation during already low-production months.

Salt air from the nearby Atlantic Ocean may cause accelerated corrosion of solar equipment if not properly protected. Morning fog and coastal cloud cover can also slightly reduce overall production compared to inland areas.

Preventative Measures

To maximize solar production in Baldwin, consider these preventative steps:

• Install panels with corrosion-resistant framing and components rated for coastal environments
• Use micro-inverters or power optimizers to minimize production losses when some panels are shaded or snow-covered
• Ensure mounting systems exceed local wind load requirements for coastal areas
• Consider a slightly steeper tilt than the optimal 35 degrees if winter production is prioritized, as this helps shed snow more effectively
• Implement a regular cleaning schedule, especially after winter storms or periods of heavy pollen

Despite these considerations, Baldwin's location still provides sufficient solar irradiance to make photovoltaic systems financially viable for most homeowners, particularly when taking advantage of available state and federal incentives.

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 Baldwin

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 40.658, Longitude: -73.6026 (Baldwin, 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 Baldwin, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Baldwin, United States (Lat/Long 40.658, -73.6026) 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 Baldwin, 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 Baldwin, 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
24° South in Summer	45° South in Autumn	56° South in Winter	33° 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 Baldwin, 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 Baldwin, 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 Baldwin, United States

Baldwin, New York, is situated on the southern shore of Long Island, approximately 25 miles east of New York City. The topography of Baldwin and its surrounding areas is predominantly characterized by flat to gently rolling terrain typical of coastal Long Island. This area forms part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain physiographic province, featuring low elevation and minimal relief. The land in and around Baldwin gradually slopes southward toward the Atlantic Ocean. The northern parts of Baldwin sit at slightly higher elevations, typically around 20-30 feet above sea level, while the southern portions near the coast are lower, often just a few feet above sea level. Baldwin borders several shallow bays and marshlands to the south, including Baldwin Bay and Middle Bay, which connect to the larger South Oyster Bay and eventually to the Atlantic Ocean.

Surrounding Landscape Features

To the north of Baldwin, the terrain gradually rises toward the center of Long Island where the Harbor Hill Moraine and Ronkonkoma Moraine (glacial deposits from the last ice age) create slightly more elevated and rolling landscapes. These areas typically reach elevations of 100-200 feet above sea level. The southern coast of Long Island, including the areas near Baldwin, features barrier islands, salt marshes, and shallow bays that separate the mainland from the open ocean. The immediate vicinity of Baldwin is heavily urbanized with residential and commercial development, typical of Nassau County. Open spaces are limited and primarily consist of small parks, golf courses, and protected wetlands near the coast.

Potential Areas for Solar PV Development

For large-scale solar PV development near Baldwin, several factors must be considered, including available open space, land use restrictions, and topographic suitability. Given the urbanized nature of Baldwin and immediate surroundings, large-scale solar installations would face significant space constraints. However, some nearby areas might offer potential: The relatively flat terrain throughout the region is generally favorable for solar installations from a topographic perspective, requiring minimal grading and site preparation. Some potential areas for consideration include: Former industrial sites or brownfields in nearby communities such as Oceanside, Freeport, or Hempstead might provide suitable locations for solar development. These areas often have large, open spaces with minimal shading and existing access to electrical infrastructure. The slightly higher elevation areas to the north in central Long Island, where there might be larger undeveloped parcels, could be suitable. These areas are less prone to flooding compared to coastal regions and may have fewer wetland restrictions. Capped landfills in Nassau County represent another possibility. Their elevated position minimizes shading issues, and their limited potential for other types of development makes them attractive candidates for solar arrays. Large commercial rooftops and parking areas throughout Nassau County collectively offer significant potential for distributed solar generation, though these would be smaller in scale than traditional utility-scale solar farms. The flat open spaces associated with Republic Airport in East Farmingdale (about 7 miles northeast) might present opportunities for solar development on non-operational portions of the property. It's worth noting that the densely populated nature of Long Island creates significant challenges for utility-scale solar development. Environmental considerations, including coastal wetlands protection and groundwater concerns, further constrain potential development areas. Most successful large-scale solar projects in the region would likely need to be developed on previously disturbed lands, existing structures, or as part of dual-use concepts rather than on undeveloped natural areas.

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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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.