Solar PV Analysis of Belle Mead, United States
Belle Mead, New Jersey is a fairly good location for generating solar energy year-round. However, the amount of electricity you can generate from solar power changes with the seasons. During summer and spring, when days are longer and sunnier, you can expect to generate more power - around 6.05 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in summer and 5.47 kWh/day in spring for each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar panels.
In autumn and winter, as daylight hours decrease and weather becomes less predictable, your output will drop to around 3.54 kWh/day in autumn and even lower at approximately 2.18 kWh/day during winter months.
To get the most out of your solar system throughout the year at this location, it's best to tilt your panels at an angle of about 35 degrees facing southwards – this maximizes exposure to sunlight over different seasons.
As far as environmental or weather factors that could affect production go: Belle Mead experiences both sunny and cloudy days throughout the year which means there will be times when production is high but also times when it may be lower due to cloud cover or bad weather conditions such as snowfall during winter months which could cover panels reducing their effectiveness.
Local trees or buildings might also cast shadows on your panel installation site which can limit their productivity so choosing a clear site is important where possible.
To combat these potential issues:
1. Regular cleaning/maintenance: Make sure that snow or debris is cleared off regularly so that they do not block sunlight.
2. Install a tracking system: This allows your panels to move with the sun throughout the day ensuring maximum sunlight absorption.
3. Use microinverters/power optimizers: These devices ensure each panel operates independently so if one panel is shaded it doesn't affect overall performance.
4.Use anti-reflective coating on panels: This improves light absorption especially helpful during cloudy days.
5. Tree trimming: If trees are casting shadows on your panels, you might need to trim them back.
In conclusion, while Belle Mead isn't the most ideal location for solar energy production due to seasonal changes and potential weather disruptions, with proper installation and maintenance, it can still be a beneficial and viable source of renewable energy.
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 3028 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 Belle Mead
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 40.4496, Longitude: -74.6566 (Belle Mead, 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 Belle Mead, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Belle Mead, United States (Lat/Long 40.4496, -74.6566) 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 Belle Mead, 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 Belle Mead, 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 | 55° 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 Belle Mead, 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 Belle Mead, 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 Belle Mead, United States
Belle Mead, United States is located in the state of New Jersey. The topography around Belle Mead is relatively flat with gentle rolling hills, which are characteristic of this region. The area is a mix of residential properties and farmland.
For large scale solar PV installations, open and flat areas are most suitable as they provide maximum exposure to sunlight and minimize shading issues. Therefore, unused or underutilized farmlands could be potential sites for such projects.
Additionally, rooftops in commercial or industrial zones can also be considered for smaller-scale solar panel installations. These locations often have large roof surfaces that are unobstructed by shade and can generate significant amounts of electricity.
However, any decision on where to locate a solar farm would also need to consider factors like local zoning laws, proximity to power grids for easy transmission of generated electricity, possible environmental impacts among others.
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: Thursday 23rd of May 2024
Last Updated: Wednesday 26th of June 2024
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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.
