Solar PV Analysis of Crofton, United States
Crofton, Maryland could be a decent place to generate solar energy year-round, but it's not ideal. The amount of electricity you can produce with solar panels varies throughout the year. In summer and spring, you can expect to generate a good amount of energy - 6.43 kilowatt-hours (kWh) and 5.64 kWh per day respectively for each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power capacity. However, in autumn and winter, the output drops significantly to 3.77 kWh/day and 2.26 kWh/day respectively.
The best time to generate solar power in Crofton would be during the summer when sunlight is most abundant followed by springtime when sunlight hours are still reasonably high before they start decreasing towards autumn and winter.
To get the most out of your solar panels all year round in Crofton, it's recommended that you tilt them at an angle of 34 degrees facing south which is optimal for this location for maximizing total annual production from your panels.
As far as local factors that could impact your ability to produce solar energy at this location are concerned; Maryland has a fairly diverse climate with hot summers but also cold winters which could potentially limit production during those colder months due to shorter daylight hours and potential snow cover on panels.
In terms of topography; if there are hills or trees casting shadows over where you plan on installing your panels then these could block sunlight from reaching them thus reducing their efficiency.
Weather-wise; while Maryland does see a fair amount of sunshine throughout the year it also experiences frequent rainstorms especially during springtime which can temporarily reduce or halt production completely if skies are heavily overcast.
To mitigate against these potential issues:
- You might want to consider investing in adjustable mounts so that panel angles can be changed depending on the time of year.
- Regularly clean off any snow accumulation during winter.
- Ensure there's no shade falling on your panels especially during peak sunlight hours.
- Install a weather-resistant solar system that can withstand heavy rainstorms and other adverse weather conditions.
Overall, while Crofton isn't the most ideal location for solar power production, with the right setup and maintenance it's still very possible to generate a significant amount of energy from solar power.
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 Crofton
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.013, Longitude: -76.6742 (Crofton, 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 Crofton, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Crofton, United States (Lat/Long 39.013, -76.6742) 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 Crofton, 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 Crofton, 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 | 43° 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 Crofton, 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 Crofton, 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 Crofton, United States
Crofton, United States is located in the state of Maryland. The topography around Crofton is relatively flat with some rolling hills. The area is characterized by its mixed forests and residential communities. It's part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain which means it has a generally low-lying, flat terrain.
For large-scale solar PV installations, areas with maximum sun exposure and minimum shading are ideal. Given this, open fields or farmlands would be most suitable for such installations in the vicinity of Crofton.
However, specific suitability would also depend on factors like local weather conditions (amount of annual sunshine), land availability and use restrictions, proximity to power grids for easy transmission etc. Therefore a detailed feasibility study would be needed to identify exact locations best suited for large scale solar PV around Crofton.
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: Thursday 7th of March 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.
