Blackwell, Oklahoma presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations that potential solar installers should carefully consider.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this Northern Temperate Zone location varies considerably throughout the year. Summer provides the strongest performance at 7.12 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it the peak season for solar generation. Spring offers good production levels at 5.48 kWh per day per kW, while autumn drops to 4.67 kWh per day per kW. Winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 3.06 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity. This seasonal pattern means that solar systems in Blackwell will generate more than twice as much electricity in summer compared to winter months. The spring and summer periods represent the ideal times for maximum solar energy production at this location.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For fixed panel installations at Blackwell, the ideal tilt angle is 33 degrees facing south to maximize total year-round solar production. This angle is calculated based on the location's latitude and weighted solar irradiance data to optimize annual energy output.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in Oklahoma can significantly impact solar energy production and should be addressed during installation planning. Severe Weather Challenges: Oklahoma is located in "Tornado Alley" and experiences frequent severe thunderstorms, hail, high winds, and occasional tornadoes. These weather events can damage solar panels and mounting systems if not properly protected. Dust and Agricultural Debris: The region's agricultural activities and periodic dust storms can coat solar panels, reducing their efficiency. Oklahoma's farming operations create airborne particles that settle on panel surfaces. Ice and Snow Accumulation: While winters are relatively mild, ice storms and occasional snow can temporarily block solar panels and add weight stress to mounting systems.

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize energy production despite these challenges, several protective measures should be implemented:

• Install impact-resistant tempered glass panels rated for large hail resistance
• Use reinforced mounting systems designed for high wind loads (minimum 90+ mph wind rating)
• Implement proper grounding and surge protection systems for lightning protection
• Design panel layouts with adequate spacing for cleaning access and drainage
• Consider automated cleaning systems or plan for regular manual cleaning schedules

Structural Considerations: Mounting systems should be engineered to handle both uplift forces from high winds and potential ice loading. Professional installation with proper permits and inspections is essential given the severe weather risks. Maintenance Planning: Regular inspection and cleaning schedules become particularly important in this environment. Panel cleaning after dust storms and debris removal after severe weather events will help maintain optimal energy production throughout the year. Despite these challenges, Blackwell's solar potential remains viable with proper planning and installation techniques that account for local environmental conditions.

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 Blackwell

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 36.7981, Longitude: -97.2894 (Blackwell, 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 33° South in Blackwell, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Blackwell, United States (Lat/Long 36.7981, -97.2894) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 33° 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 Blackwell, 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 Blackwell, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 33° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
21° South in Summer	41° South in Autumn	52° South in Winter	30° 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 Blackwell, 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 Blackwell, 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 Blackwell, United States

Topography Around Blackwell, Oklahoma

Blackwell sits in the gently rolling plains of north-central Oklahoma, positioned in Kay County near the Kansas border. The surrounding landscape is characterized by relatively flat to gently undulating terrain typical of the Great Plains region. This area represents part of the vast prairie ecosystem that once dominated much of central North America, with elevations generally ranging from about 1,000 to 1,200 feet above sea level.

The topography consists primarily of open grasslands and agricultural fields, with occasional low hills and shallow valleys carved by small creeks and seasonal waterways. The Chikaskia River flows roughly east-west through the region north of Blackwell, creating modest floodplains and slightly more varied terrain along its corridor. South of the town, the land gradually rises toward slightly higher elevations, though the changes remain subtle across the broader landscape.

Agricultural use dominates the surrounding countryside, with large expanses of wheat fields, pastureland for cattle grazing, and some oil and gas infrastructure scattered throughout the area. The native prairie has been largely converted to farmland, creating an environment of open spaces with minimal tree cover except along waterways and around farmsteads. This agricultural heritage has resulted in a landscape of large, relatively uniform parcels of land with good road access.

Areas Most Suitable for Large-Scale Solar Development

The flat to gently rolling topography around Blackwell creates excellent conditions for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The most promising areas lie to the east and southeast of the town, where extensive agricultural fields provide large contiguous parcels of land with minimal slope variations. These areas offer the dual advantages of relatively flat terrain that requires minimal grading and good proximity to existing electrical transmission infrastructure.

The agricultural lands extending toward the Osage County border present particularly attractive opportunities, as they combine favorable topography with lower land costs compared to more developed areas. The gentle southward-facing slopes in this region would be especially well-suited for solar arrays, as they naturally orient toward optimal sun exposure while maintaining the gradual grades that keep construction and maintenance costs manageable.

Areas west of Blackwell also show strong potential, particularly the expansive wheat-growing regions that stretch toward the Chikaskia River valley. While some of these areas include slightly more rolling terrain, the variations remain gentle enough to accommodate large solar installations without significant earthwork. The existing agricultural road network in these areas would facilitate both construction access and ongoing maintenance operations.

Less suitable areas include the immediate floodplains of the Chikaskia River and other waterways, where periodic flooding and environmental restrictions would complicate development. Additionally, the scattered oil and gas operations throughout the region create pockets of land that would be less desirable for solar development, though these represent a relatively small portion of the total available area. The most practical approach would focus on the extensive agricultural lands that dominate the landscape, taking advantage of their favorable topography, existing infrastructure access, and the economic incentives that might encourage farmers to lease or sell land for renewable energy development.

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.