Solar PV Analysis of Dearborn, United States
The location in Dearborn, Michigan, United States is moderately suitable for generating energy via solar photovoltaics (PV) year-round. The amount of solar energy that can be produced varies depending on the season. In summer, you can expect to generate about 6.32 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar panels. This decreases to 3.19 kWh/day in autumn and further drops to 1.98 kWh/day during the winter months. However, it increases again in spring with an average generation of 5.38 kWh/day per kW.
This means that the most ideal time for generating solar power at this location would be during the summer and spring months when sunlight is more abundant compared to autumn and winter.
If you're installing fixed panel solar PV at this location, tilting your panels at an angle of 36 degrees towards the south will maximize your total year-round production from your installation.
As far as local factors are concerned that might affect your ability to produce solar power here; Dearborn has a humid continental climate which means long hot summers and cold winters with moderate snowfall which could potentially cover panels reducing their effectiveness temporarily until cleared off again.
To ensure greater energy production despite these weather conditions, it's advisable to install snow guards or heating elements on your panels so they don't get covered by snow during winter months; additionally ensuring regular maintenance checkups will help keep them clear from debris or dirt that may accumulate over time affecting their efficiency.
Furthermore, considering any potential shading issues from nearby trees or buildings when choosing where exactly on a property to install can also help maximise exposure to sunlight throughout different times of day/year - hence optimising overall output potential from a given installation setup.
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 Dearborn
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 42.3344, Longitude: -83.1756 (Dearborn, 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 36° South in Dearborn, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Dearborn, United States (Lat/Long 42.3344, -83.1756) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 36° 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 Dearborn, 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 Dearborn, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 36° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26° South in Summer | 46° South in Autumn | 56° South in Winter | 35° 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 Dearborn, 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 Dearborn, 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 Dearborn, United States
Dearborn, United States is located in the state of Michigan. The topography of Dearborn is relatively flat as it's part of the Great Lakes Basin. It has an average elevation of about 591 feet above sea level. This area has a mix of urban and suburban development with some open spaces.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping areas are ideal as they require less groundwork and can accommodate more panels. Given this, the open spaces around Dearborn could be suitable for such installations.
However, other factors also need to be considered for large-scale solar PV projects including solar irradiance (amount of sunlight), local climate conditions, availability and proximity to electrical grid infrastructure, land use regulations among others.
Michigan gets a moderate amount of sunlight annually compared to other states in the U.S., which makes it feasible for solar energy generation but not necessarily the most optimal location. Furthermore, given that Dearborn is highly urbanized, there may be zoning restrictions or other regulatory hurdles that could limit large-scale solar installations within city limits.
Areas outside city limits with less development restrictions would likely be more suited for large scale Solar PV installations. For instance agricultural lands or brownfield sites that are not being used can serve as potential sites for these types of projects due to their size and availability.
Additionally places like airport fields (such as Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport nearby) can also house such projects if they have enough unused land available and if regulations allow it.
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 13th of February 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.
