Brockport, New York is a moderately suitable location for year-round solar energy generation, though it experiences significant seasonal variation typical of the Northern Temperate Zone climate.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location varies dramatically throughout the year. Summer provides the strongest performance at 5.95 kWh per day per installed kilowatt, making it the peak season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.16 kWh per day per kilowatt, offering nearly comparable energy production. Autumn sees a notable decline to 2.94 kWh per day per kilowatt, while winter presents the most challenging period with only 1.57 kWh per day per kilowatt. This represents less than one-third of summer's output, highlighting the seasonal challenges faced by solar installations in this region. For optimal year-round energy capture, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 37 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual production by balancing the varying sun angles throughout the seasons.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in the Brockport area can significantly impact solar energy generation:

• Heavy snow accumulation during winter months can completely block solar panels
• Frequent cloud cover and overcast skies, particularly during autumn and winter
• Ice formation on panels during freeze-thaw cycles
• Lake-effect weather patterns from nearby Lake Ontario creating additional cloud cover

Preventative Measures for Better Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies should be considered. Panels should be mounted at steeper angles when possible to promote natural snow shedding, though this must be balanced against the optimal 37-degree angle for maximum annual output. Installing panels with adequate spacing between rows prevents snow from one panel from shading another during winter months. Anti-reflective coatings can help reduce ice formation, while ensuring easy access for manual snow removal when necessary. Regular maintenance becomes particularly important during winter months, including periodic snow removal and inspection for ice damage. Installing monitoring systems helps identify when panels are underperforming due to snow coverage or other weather-related issues. The significant seasonal variation means that battery storage or grid-tied systems become especially valuable for maintaining consistent energy supply throughout the year, particularly during the low-production winter months.

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 Brockport

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.2143, Longitude: -77.9392 (Brockport, 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 Brockport, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Brockport, United States (Lat/Long 43.2143, -77.9392) 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 Brockport, 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 Brockport, 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
27° 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 Brockport, 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 Brockport, 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 Brockport, United States

Topography Around Brockport

Brockport sits in western New York State, positioned within the relatively flat terrain characteristic of the Lake Ontario Plain. The landscape surrounding this college town is predominantly gentle and rolling, with minimal elevation changes that create an accessible and developable environment. The area lies at a modest elevation of approximately 500 feet above sea level, nestled between the southern shore of Lake Ontario to the north and the gradually rising terrain that leads toward the Finger Lakes region to the south.

The immediate vicinity features agricultural land interspersed with residential developments and small commercial areas. The topography consists mainly of glacially-formed terrain, creating broad, open spaces with gradual slopes that rarely exceed moderate grades. This geological history has left behind fertile soils and a landscape that transitions smoothly between different land uses without dramatic elevation barriers.

To the north, the land gradually slopes toward Lake Ontario's shoreline, while southward the terrain begins a gentle ascent toward higher elevations. The Erie Canal runs through the area, following the natural contours of this relatively level corridor that has historically served as a transportation route precisely because of its favorable topography.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The agricultural lands extending south and southeast of Brockport present the most promising opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. These areas offer extensive flat to gently rolling terrain with minimal obstructions and excellent accessibility via existing road networks. The open farmland provides the necessary space for utility-scale solar arrays while maintaining appropriate distances from residential areas.

The corridor running southwest toward the town of Churchville contains particularly suitable terrain, featuring large contiguous parcels of relatively flat agricultural land. This area benefits from minimal tree coverage and existing infrastructure that could support solar development. The gentle southern-facing slopes common throughout this region provide optimal positioning for solar panel arrays.

Areas to the east and southeast, extending toward the communities of Spencerport and Gates, also present favorable conditions. These locations combine the necessary flat terrain with proximity to existing electrical transmission infrastructure, making them economically viable for large-scale solar projects. The agricultural zoning in these areas often accommodates renewable energy development more readily than residential or commercial zones.

The western areas near the village of Hamlin offer additional opportunities, particularly where large agricultural parcels meet the gently undulating terrain typical of the region. These locations provide the dual benefits of suitable topography and distance from dense residential development, reducing potential conflicts with existing land uses while maximizing the available space for solar 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!

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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.