Solar PV Analysis of Center Harbor, United States
Center Harbor, New Hampshire, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a varied landscape for solar energy production throughout the year. The location's potential for solar PV generation fluctuates significantly across seasons, presenting both opportunities and challenges for those considering solar installations.
Seasonal Solar Performance
Summer stands out as the most productive season, with an impressive 5.72 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely behind, generating 5.23 kWh/day. These seasons provide ideal conditions for solar energy harvesting, with longer daylight hours and more direct sunlight.
Autumn sees a noticeable decline in production, dropping to 3.17 kWh/day. Winter presents the greatest challenge, with output plummeting to just 1.88 kWh/day per kW installed. This significant seasonal variation underscores the importance of efficient system design and energy management strategies.
Optimizing Solar Panel Installation
To maximize year-round solar production in Center Harbor, fixed solar panels should be tilted at a 38-degree angle facing south. This optimal angle ensures the best possible exposure to sunlight throughout the year, balancing the varying sun positions across seasons.
Environmental and Weather Considerations
Several factors unique to Center Harbor's location can impact solar energy production:
- Snow accumulation in winter can temporarily reduce panel efficiency
- Tree cover and shading may limit solar exposure in some areas
- Occasional severe weather events, such as thunderstorms or hurricanes, could pose risks to solar installations
To mitigate these challenges, consider installing panels at a steeper angle to encourage snow sliding off, implementing regular cleaning routines, and using micro-inverters or power optimizers to minimize the impact of partial shading. Additionally, robust mounting systems can help protect against extreme weather events.
While Center Harbor experiences significant seasonal variations in solar potential, with proper planning and installation techniques, solar PV systems can still provide substantial energy production throughout the year. The strong performance in spring and summer can help offset the reduced output during autumn and 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 Center Harbor
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.7094, Longitude: -71.4823 (Center Harbor, 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 38° South in Center Harbor, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Center Harbor, United States (Lat/Long 43.7094, -71.4823) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 38° 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 Center Harbor, 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 Center Harbor, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 38° 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 | 48° South in Autumn | 58° South in Winter | 37° 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 Center Harbor, 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 Center Harbor, 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 Center Harbor, United States
The topography around Center Harbor, New Hampshire, in the United States, is characterized by a picturesque landscape typical of the Lakes Region. This area is nestled in the foothills of the White Mountains, creating a varied terrain with gentle hills, valleys, and numerous water bodies.
Center Harbor itself sits on the northern shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, the largest lake in New Hampshire. The land around the town gradually rises from the lakeshore, forming rolling hills and small peaks. These elevations provide scenic views of the surrounding area, including the lake and distant mountains.
The region features a mix of forested areas, open fields, and scattered residential developments. Small streams and brooks wind their way through the landscape, eventually feeding into Lake Winnipesaukee or other nearby water bodies. The terrain is generally not extremely steep, but it does have noticeable changes in elevation throughout the area.
Regarding large-scale solar PV installations, the most suitable areas nearby would likely be found in the more open, flatter regions just outside the immediate vicinity of Center Harbor. Ideal locations would include:
- Former agricultural lands or meadows that offer expansive, unobstructed spaces
- Gently sloping hillsides facing south or southwest, which would receive optimal sunlight throughout the day
- Areas with minimal tree cover to avoid shading issues
- Locations away from densely populated residential zones to minimize visual impact
However, it's important to note that the Lakes Region's natural beauty and tourism-based economy might pose challenges for large-scale solar development. Any such projects would need to carefully consider their environmental impact and potential effects on the local community and tourism industry. Smaller-scale solar installations on existing structures or in less visually prominent areas might be more readily accepted in this region.
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
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Tuesday 27th of August 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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.
