Solar PV Analysis of Chevy Chase, United States
Chevy Chase, Maryland is a pretty good place to install solar panels for energy production. The amount of electricity you can generate from solar power changes with the seasons though.
During the summer months, each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar panels will produce about 6.46 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity every day. In autumn, that number drops to around 4.01 kWh per day for each kW of installed solar panel capacity. Winter sees the lowest production with only about 2.47 kWh generated per day for each kW of installed solar panel capacity due to shorter daylight hours and lower sun angles. But things improve in spring when you can expect around 5.73 kWh/day per kW.
So, while winter might not be great for generating a lot of power from your panels because there's less sunlight and it's at a lower angle in the sky, during other times like summer and spring you'll see much higher outputs which balances out over the year.
Interestingly enough, if you're installing fixed (non-moving) panels here in Chevy Chase, tilting them at an angle facing south by about 34 degrees would help maximize how much energy they generate throughout all seasons.
As far as environmental or weather factors that could affect your power generation - Chevy Chase doesn't have too many issues but there are some worth mentioning:
1) It's located near Washington D.C., so air pollution could potentially decrease efficiency slightly.
2) Snowfall during winter could cover up your panels reducing their output until it melts or is removed.
3) Tree shade: If your property has a lot of trees blocking sunlight this will obviously reduce how much energy you get from your installation.
To deal with these potential problems:
1) You can't do much about air pollution personally but generally speaking its impact on overall performance isn't huge.
2) For snowfall - consider installing system monitoring so any drastic drops in production can be addressed quickly, and consider hiring a professional service to clean your panels if it's safe to do so.
3) For tree shade - make sure you install your panels in the sunniest part of your property. If that isn't possible, there are special types of solar panels that work better in shaded conditions.
Overall, Chevy Chase is quite suitable for solar power generation with just a few minor considerations to keep in mind.
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 Chevy Chase
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 38.9779, Longitude: -77.0806 (Chevy Chase, 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 34° South in Chevy Chase, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Chevy Chase, United States (Lat/Long 38.9779, -77.0806) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 34° 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 Chevy Chase, 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 Chevy Chase, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 34° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23° South in Summer | 44° South in Autumn | 54° South in Winter | 32° 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 Chevy Chase, 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 Chevy Chase, 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 Chevy Chase, United States
Chevy Chase, United States is located in the state of Maryland. The topography around this area is generally flat to gently rolling, with some moderate hills. The area is largely urbanized and suburban, with significant tree cover and residential development.
For large-scale solar PV installations, open and flat areas are ideal as they allow for maximum sunlight exposure. In the context of Chevy Chase and its surrounding regions, such suitable areas could be:
1) Agricultural lands or open fields: These can be found in more rural parts of Maryland outside of Chevy Chase. However, it's important to consider potential conflicts between agricultural use and solar development.
2) Brownfields or landfills: These are often good candidates for solar installations as they may not have many other viable uses. There might be such sites within a reasonable distance from Chevy Chase.
3) Large rooftops: Industrial or commercial buildings with large flat roofs can also be suitable for smaller scale but collectively significant solar arrays.
4) Parking lots: Solar panel structures can double up as shade providers over parking lots which are quite common in suburban settings like Chevy Chase.
The feasibility of these options would depend on a detailed site analysis considering factors like local zoning laws, grid connectivity infrastructure, environmental impact assessments etc.
Also remember that while Maryland does get a decent amount of sun relative to other states at similar latitudes (around 200 sunny days per year), it’s not as high as places like California or Arizona where large-scale solar farms are more common due to their increased sun exposure.
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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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Tuesday 11th of June 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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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.
