Solar PV Analysis of Duluth, United States
Duluth, Minnesota is a decent location for generating solar energy, but it's not the best. The amount of solar power you can produce changes with the seasons. In summer, when the sun is out longer and higher in the sky, you can expect to generate about 6.68 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels you have installed. In autumn and winter, when days are shorter and the sun isn't as high in the sky, that number drops to around 3.07 kWh/day and 2.11 kWh/day respectively. Spring sees an increase again to about 5.19 kWh/day.
To maximize your year-round solar production in Duluth, it's recommended that your solar panels are tilted at an angle of 40 degrees facing south if they're fixed and can't be adjusted throughout the year.
However, there are some factors specific to Duluth that could affect your ability to produce solar energy efficiently:
1) Snow: Duluth has heavy snowfall during winter months which can cover up your panels reducing their efficiency or even stopping production altogether.
Prevention: Install a system for clearing snow from your panels regularly or consider installing them at steeper angles so snow slides off more easily.
2) Cloudy weather: Overcast skies common in this region especially during fall/winter will reduce sunlight reaching your panel.
Prevention: You might want to install more efficient but costly panels which perform better under low light conditions or add more panels if space allows.
3) Cold temperatures: While cold weather improves panel efficiency because they don’t overheat as much; extreme cold may cause damage.
Prevention: Ensure using durable PV modules designed specifically for colder climates.
Remember these factors while planning for a Solar PV installation at Duluth – it’s all about optimizing what nature provides us!
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 Duluth
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 46.8154, Longitude: -92.1952 (Duluth, 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 40° South in Duluth, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Duluth, United States (Lat/Long 46.8154, -92.1952) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 40° 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 Duluth, 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 Duluth, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 40° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30° South in Summer | 50° South in Autumn | 60° South in Winter | 39° 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 Duluth, 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 Duluth, 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 Duluth, United States
Duluth, Minnesota is located on the westernmost tip of Lake Superior and it's known for its hilly terrain. The city sits atop a hillside that rises from the lake shore, providing significant elevation changes throughout the area. It's characterized by steep hills, rock outcrops and numerous streams flowing into Lake Superior.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping areas are generally preferred to minimize installation costs and maximize efficiency. While Duluth's hilly topography may pose some challenges for such installations, there could still be opportunities in certain areas.
1. Open spaces: Large open spaces like farmlands or unused industrial lands could be potential sites for solar farms.
2. Rooftops: Given Duluth's urban setting, rooftops of large buildings (like warehouses or factories) can also be used for installing solar panels.
3. Brownfield Sites: These are previously developed lands that are not currently in use which can be repurposed for renewable energy projects.
4. South-facing slopes: Even though Duluth is hilly, south-facing slopes can still offer good conditions for solar power generation as they receive plenty of sunlight throughout the day.
However, before choosing a location several factors should be considered including local climate (solar irradiation levels), land availability & cost, proximity to transmission lines or substations (for grid connection), environmental impact assessments etc.
It would also make sense to conduct detailed site-specific studies using tools like GIS-based solar mapping or LiDAR technology to identify optimal locations considering all these factors together with topographical constraints specific to Duluth area.
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!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Saturday 27th of April 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
Tell Us About Your Work
We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.
Feeling generous?
Share this with your friends!
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.
