Solar PV Analysis of Bay Shore, United States
Bay Shore, New York is a decent location for generating solar energy year-round, but it's not perfect. The amount of electricity you can get from your solar panels changes with each season: they'll work best in the summer and spring when the sun is out more often and at a higher angle in the sky. In fact, during summer you can expect to generate about 6.15 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels you have installed, while in spring this number decreases slightly to 5.69 kWh/day.
However, during autumn and winter when days are shorter and there's less sunlight overall, your panels will produce less power - around 3.69 kWh/day in autumn and only 2.20 kWh/day in winter.
To ensure that your solar panels produce as much power as possible throughout the year at Bay Shore, they should be installed at an angle facing southwards by about 35 degrees from horizontal level - this allows them to capture most sunlight over the course of a day all year round.
As far as local conditions that might affect how well your solar panels work go; like any other place on Earth Bay Shore has its share of cloudy days which could reduce output from your system since less sunshine reaches the panels on such days; also snow cover during winter months may obstruct sunlight if not cleared off regularly.
While these factors do impede production somewhat; regular maintenance including cleaning off any debris or snow covering from panel surfaces can help keep up efficiency levels over time despite these issues – so while it’s not an ideal location due to seasonal variation; with right installation angle & proper upkeep Bay Shore still makes for a viable place for harnessing solar energy effectively.
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 Bay Shore
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 40.7005, Longitude: -73.2407 (Bay Shore, 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 Bay Shore, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Bay Shore, United States (Lat/Long 40.7005, -73.2407) 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 Bay Shore, 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 Bay Shore, 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 Bay Shore, 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 Bay Shore, 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 Bay Shore, United States
Bay Shore is located in the state of New York, United States. The topography around Bay Shore is mostly flat with some gently rolling hills. It's situated on the south shore of Long Island and has access to both the Great South Bay and Atlantic Ocean.
The area experiences a moderate climate with plenty of sunlight throughout the year, which makes it suitable for solar PV installations. However, large-scale solar PV projects require extensive land area that is free from shading and ideally has a southern exposure for maximum sun absorption.
Areas nearby that could be most suited for large-scale solar PV would likely be open fields or farmland areas with minimal tree cover or other obstructions to sunlight. These might include agricultural lands in Suffolk County or potentially unused industrial spaces if they have sufficient rooftop space or adjacent open land.
However, any plan for such an installation would need to take into account local zoning laws and regulations as well as potential environmental impacts. For instance, installing solar panels on prime farmland might not be preferred due to potential impact on food production.
In terms of infrastructure connection, proximity to power lines or substations can also play a significant role in determining suitability since this can significantly reduce costs associated with connecting the solar farm to the grid.
It's also worth noting that residential rooftop solar may be another viable option within Bay Shore itself given its largely suburban setting.
Overall, a detailed site assessment would need to be conducted by professionals before deciding on specific sites for large scale solar PV installations.
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
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Thursday 16th of May 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.
