Clearfield, Utah, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a moderately suitable environment for solar PV energy generation. The location's potential for solar power production varies significantly throughout the year, with distinct seasonal patterns.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Summer stands out as the most productive season, with an impressive daily output of 7.65 kWh per kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely behind, generating 6.51 kWh/day. These warmer months provide ideal conditions for solar energy production, with longer daylight hours and more direct sunlight.

Autumn sees a noticeable decrease in solar output, dropping to 4.00 kWh/day. Winter experiences the most significant decline, with daily production falling to just 2.20 kWh per kW installed. This substantial seasonal variation highlights the challenges of maintaining consistent energy output throughout the year in Clearfield.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed panel installations in Clearfield, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round solar production is 35 degrees facing South. This angle optimizes the panels' exposure to sunlight across all seasons, balancing the higher sun angles of summer with the lower angles of winter.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Clearfield's climate presents some challenges for solar energy production. The area experiences cold winters with occasional snowfall, which can temporarily reduce panel efficiency. To mitigate this, installers should consider using panels with anti-soiling coatings and ensuring adequate panel tilt to encourage snow sliding off.

Air quality can also be a concern in this region, particularly during winter inversions. While not a major impediment, accumulated particulate matter on panels can slightly reduce efficiency. Regular cleaning and maintenance can help address this issue.

Despite these challenges, Clearfield's location still offers substantial potential for solar energy production, especially during the spring and summer months. With proper installation techniques and maintenance practices, solar PV systems can be an effective source of renewable energy in this area.

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 Clearfield

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 41.1315, Longitude: -112.0469 (Clearfield, 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 35° South in Clearfield, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Clearfield, United States (Lat/Long 41.1315, -112.0469) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 35° 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 Clearfield, 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 Clearfield, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 35° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
25° South in Summer	45° South in Autumn	56° South in Winter	34° 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 Clearfield, 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 Clearfield, 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 Clearfield, United States

The topography around Clearfield, Utah, is characterized by a diverse landscape that transitions from flat, low-lying areas to more elevated terrain. Clearfield itself is situated in the eastern part of the Great Salt Lake Valley, with an elevation of approximately 4,500 feet above sea level. The city lies on relatively flat land that was once part of the ancient Lake Bonneville. To the east of Clearfield, the terrain gradually rises towards the Wasatch Range, a prominent mountain range that forms part of the Rocky Mountains. These mountains create a dramatic backdrop to the area, with peaks reaching heights of over 11,000 feet. The foothills of the Wasatch Range begin about 5-10 miles east of Clearfield, offering a stark contrast to the valley floor. To the west and northwest of Clearfield, the landscape remains relatively flat as it extends towards the Great Salt Lake. This area is characterized by wetlands, marshes, and mudflats, particularly in the vicinity of the lake's shoreline. The Great Salt Lake itself is a dominant feature of the region, lying approximately 10 miles west of Clearfield.

Potential Areas for Large-Scale Solar PV

When considering areas nearby that would be most suited to large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, several factors come into play. The ideal locations would have ample sunlight exposure, relatively flat terrain, and minimal environmental or land-use conflicts. The areas west and southwest of Clearfield, extending towards the Great Salt Lake, offer promising potential for solar PV development. These regions feature expansive, flat landscapes with few obstructions to sunlight. The arid climate and lack of vegetation in many of these areas make them less likely to conflict with agricultural or conservation interests. Another potentially suitable area lies to the north of Clearfield, in the flatter portions of Davis and Weber counties. These areas, while more developed than the western salt flats, still contain open spaces that could accommodate large-scale solar installations. It's important to note that while the mountainous areas to the east receive abundant sunlight, their steep and varied terrain makes them less ideal for large-scale solar PV projects. The costs and challenges associated with construction on such landscapes would likely outweigh the benefits of the increased elevation and potentially clearer skies. Any large-scale solar development would need to carefully consider environmental impacts, particularly on the sensitive ecosystems near the Great Salt Lake. Additionally, proximity to existing power infrastructure and local zoning regulations would play crucial roles in determining the most viable locations for solar PV installations in the region surrounding Clearfield.

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.