Solar Energy Potential in Bennington, Vermont

Bennington, Vermont in the United States offers moderate potential for solar energy generation throughout the year. Located in the Northern Temperate Zone, this location experiences significant seasonal variations in solar production that prospective solar adopters should consider. The solar energy output at this location follows distinct seasonal patterns. During summer months, solar panels can generate an impressive 5.89 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows as the second most productive season, with daily generation of 5.24 kWh per kilowatt. Autumn production decreases to 3.17 kWh per day, while winter shows the lowest output at just 1.72 kWh daily per kilowatt installed.

Seasonal Considerations

The substantial difference between summer and winter production (over three times more energy in summer) reflects the northern latitude of Bennington. This location experiences the typical northern hemisphere pattern of longer, more direct sunlight during summer months and shorter days with lower sun angles during winter. For maximum year-round energy production with a fixed panel installation in Bennington, panels should be tilted at 37 degrees facing South. This specific angle has been calculated to optimize annual energy harvest by accounting for the location's latitude, solar elevation angles throughout the year, and the Earth's elliptical orbit.

Environmental Factors and Mitigation

Several environmental factors can impact solar production in Bennington:

• Heavy snowfall: Vermont averages over 70 inches of snow annually, which can cover panels and reduce production during winter months. Installing panels at the recommended 37-degree tilt helps snow slide off more easily, while occasional manual clearing may be necessary during heavy snow events.
• Tree coverage: Bennington's wooded landscape can create shading issues. A thorough site assessment to identify and mitigate shading from trees is essential before installation.
• Cloudy conditions: The region experiences approximately 160 cloudy days annually, particularly in winter. Using high-efficiency panels designed to perform better in diffuse light conditions can help maximize production.

Despite these challenges, proper system design and regular maintenance can ensure reasonable solar production. The strong summer and spring performance can offset winter limitations, making solar viable though not ideal year-round in Bennington.

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 Bennington

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 42.8848, Longitude: -73.191 (Bennington, 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 37° South in Bennington, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Bennington, United States (Lat/Long 42.8848, -73.191) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 37° 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 Bennington, 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 Bennington, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 37° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
26° South in Summer	47° South in Autumn	57° South in Winter	36° 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 Bennington, 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 Bennington, 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 Bennington, United States

Topography of Bennington, Vermont

Bennington is situated in the southwestern corner of Vermont, nestled within a valley formed by significant mountain ranges. The town sits at an elevation of approximately 750 feet (230 meters) above sea level, with the surrounding landscape characterized by dramatic changes in elevation. To the east rises the Green Mountain Range, with peaks reaching over 3,000 feet, including the notable Mount Anthony which stands prominently near the town. To the west, the Taconic Mountains create another imposing boundary, with some summits exceeding 2,500 feet. The Walloomsac River flows through Bennington, carving a relatively flat valley floor where the town center and most development has occurred. This river valley provides some of the few extensive flat areas in the region, with the terrain quickly rising into rolling hills and then steeper mountain slopes as one moves away from the town center in nearly any direction. The topography around Bennington creates a classic New England landscape of forested mountains, river valleys, and scattered agricultural clearings. The mountainous terrain has historically channeled development along the valley floors and gentler slopes, leaving much of the steeper areas forested.

Solar PV Potential in the Bennington Region

The varied topography around Bennington presents both challenges and opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. The most suitable areas for solar development would be: The valley floors, particularly the broader, flatter sections of the Walloomsac River valley extending east and west of the town center, offer relatively level terrain that would minimize site preparation costs. These areas have historically been used for agriculture, which typically indicates good solar access with minimal shading concerns. South-facing slopes on the lower elevations of the surrounding hills present excellent opportunities for solar PV installations. These locations benefit from optimal sun exposure throughout the day and year. Particularly promising are the more gentle south-facing slopes along the northern edges of the valley, which receive maximum sunlight exposure while avoiding the steepest terrain. Former industrial or commercial sites in the flatter portions of Bennington could be repurposed for solar installations. These brownfield locations often have existing infrastructure connections and represent an environmentally responsible reuse of previously developed land. The areas less suitable for large-scale solar development include the steeper mountain slopes, particularly those facing north, east, or west, as these receive less direct sunlight and would require extensive and costly site preparation. Additionally, the densely forested higher elevations of both the Green Mountains and Taconic Range would require significant clearing, raising both environmental concerns and installation costs. It's worth noting that while the mountainous terrain may limit some large-scale solar opportunities, it also creates microclimates where certain protected south-facing slopes may receive particularly favorable solar conditions. A detailed site-specific analysis would be necessary to identify these optimal locations within the varied topography surrounding Bennington.

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.