Burns, Oregon, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a mixed bag for solar energy generation. The location experiences significant seasonal variations in solar output, which impacts its overall suitability for year-round solar power production.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Summer stands out as the prime season for solar energy generation in Burns, with an impressive daily output of 7.88 kWh per kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely, yielding 6.51 kWh/day. These seasons provide excellent conditions for solar power production, making them ideal times to capitalize on renewable energy.

However, the picture changes dramatically during autumn and winter. Autumn sees a substantial drop to 3.79 kWh/day, while winter performance plummets to a mere 2.02 kWh/day. This stark contrast highlights the challenges of maintaining consistent solar energy production throughout the year in Burns.

Optimizing Solar Panel Installation

To maximize year-round solar energy production in Burns, fixed solar panels should be installed at a tilt angle of 37 degrees facing south. This optimal angle helps balance the seasonal variations and ensures the best possible annual energy yield.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Burns faces some environmental and weather-related challenges that can impact solar energy production:

• Snow accumulation during winter months can significantly reduce panel efficiency.
• Dust storms, common in the high desert region, may deposit dirt on panels, decreasing their effectiveness.

To mitigate these issues, consider installing panels at a steeper angle to promote snow sliding off and implement regular cleaning schedules. Additionally, investing in snow-shedding systems and dust-resistant panel coatings can help maintain optimal performance.

In conclusion, while Burns offers excellent solar potential during spring and summer, the substantial drop in autumn and winter production means that supplementary energy sources or robust energy storage solutions may be necessary for year-round reliability. Despite these challenges, with proper planning and mitigation strategies, solar energy can still be a viable and beneficial option for this Oregon location.

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 Burns

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.5863, Longitude: -119.0541 (Burns, 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 Burns, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Burns, United States (Lat/Long 43.5863, -119.0541) 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 Burns, 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 Burns, 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	58° 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 Burns, 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 Burns, 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 Burns, United States

The landscape around Burns, Oregon is characterized by its high desert terrain, typical of the Great Basin region. Located in Harney County in southeastern Oregon, Burns sits at an elevation of around 4,100 feet above sea level. The surrounding area features a mix of flat to gently rolling plains, interspersed with occasional hills and low mountain ranges. To the north and east of Burns, the terrain is primarily composed of vast sagebrush steppe, with expansive areas of open grassland dotted with sagebrush and other drought-resistant shrubs. This relatively flat landscape stretches for miles, broken only by occasional dry creek beds and shallow depressions.

Nearby Mountains and Valleys

To the west and southwest, the topography becomes more varied. The Stinkingwater Mountains rise to the southwest, while the Pueblo Mountains can be seen further to the south. These mountain ranges introduce some elevation changes to the otherwise predominantly flat landscape. The Harney Basin, a large, flat valley, extends to the southeast of Burns. This basin is home to Malheur Lake and Harney Lake, two shallow, seasonal lakes that are remnants of a much larger ancient lake that once covered the entire basin. The area around these lakes is notably flat and often marshy, especially during wetter seasons.

Potential for Solar PV Development

The topography and climate of the Burns area make it potentially suitable for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. The vast, open plains to the north and east of Burns offer some of the most promising locations for solar development. These areas benefit from: 1. Minimal shading from natural features, allowing for maximum sun exposure throughout the day. 2. Relatively flat terrain, which reduces the need for extensive land preparation and simplifies installation. 3. Low population density, minimizing potential conflicts with residential or agricultural land use. The Harney Basin to the southeast could also be considered for solar PV projects, particularly in areas that are not prone to seasonal flooding. However, care would need to be taken to avoid ecologically sensitive areas around the lakes. While the mountainous areas to the west and southwest may receive good solar radiation, their more varied terrain could make large-scale installations more challenging and costly. However, south-facing slopes in these areas could potentially be utilized for smaller solar projects. It's important to note that any large-scale solar development would need to consider factors beyond just topography, including proximity to existing power infrastructure, environmental impact assessments, and local zoning regulations. The area's high desert climate, with its abundant sunshine and low precipitation, further enhances its potential for solar energy production.

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.