Solar PV Analysis of Cortez, United States
Cortez, Colorado is a pretty good location for generating solar energy throughout the year, although it's not perfect. The amount of electricity that can be produced varies by season. In the summer and spring, you can generate quite a lot of power - around 7 to 8 kilowatt-hours per day for every kilowatt of solar panels installed. This drops in autumn to about 5 kilowatt-hours per day and even further in winter to about 3 kilowatt-hours per day.
The best times of year to generate solar power at this location are during spring and summer when the days are longer and there is more sunlight available. To get maximum benefit from your solar installation at this location, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 33 degrees facing south.
As far as local factors go that might affect solar production, Cortez experiences a semi-arid climate with significant snowfall during winter which could potentially cover your panels reducing their output significantly. Additionally, periodic dust storms may dirty the surface of the panels decreasing their efficiency.
To overcome these issues:
1) Install a system for clearing off snow from your panels or plan on manually removing it if necessary.
2) Regular cleaning/maintenance should be done especially after dust storms to ensure optimal performance.
3) You may also want to consider installing tracking mounts that follow the sun’s path across the sky which increases overall energy production but do note they come with additional costs compared to fixed mounts.
In summary, while there are some challenges due to weather conditions in Cortez, with appropriate measures such as correct panel placement and regular maintenance/cleaning procedures; one can still effectively harness solar energy most parts of the year here.
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 Cortez
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 37.3578, Longitude: -108.5802 (Cortez, 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 33° South in Cortez, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Cortez, United States (Lat/Long 37.3578, -108.5802) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 33° 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 Cortez, 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 Cortez, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 33° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21° South in Summer | 42° South in Autumn | 52° South in Winter | 30° 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 Cortez, 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 Cortez, 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 Cortez, United States
Cortez, United States is located in the state of Colorado and sits at an elevation of around 6,200 feet. The topography around Cortez is diverse with a mixture of flatlands, rolling hills and mountainous regions as it's near the San Juan National Forest and the La Plata Mountain Range. This region also includes desert areas as it's part of the high desert plateau.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping terrains are typically ideal to minimize installation costs and maximize sun exposure. Therefore, the flatter areas in or around Cortez would be most suitable for such projects. It's also important to consider factors like local climate (which is sunny for much of the year in this area), proximity to existing power infrastructure for grid connection and potential environmental impacts.
The Ute Mountain Indian Reservation south of Cortez could potentially be a good location due to its relatively flat terrain and open space availability. Other possible locations could include unused agricultural land or other low-value land use areas where installation wouldn't interfere with natural habitats or productive farmland.
However, any specific site selection should involve thorough feasibility studies including environmental impact assessments, grid connectivity analysis and detailed solar resource assessment among others.
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: Monday 3rd 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.
