Edmonton, Kentucky, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations that potential solar installers should carefully consider.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows dramatic seasonal swings. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 6.39 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it an excellent time for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.54 kWh per day per kW, providing nearly comparable output to summer months. Autumn sees a notable decline to 3.94 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.36 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. This winter figure represents less than 40% of the summer output, highlighting the location's strong seasonal dependency. For optimal year-round energy production from a fixed panel installation at this Edmonton, Kentucky location, solar panels should be tilted at 32 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual solar output by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year and the varying solar irradiance patterns specific to this latitude.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in this Kentucky location can significantly impact solar energy generation:

• Frequent cloud cover and precipitation: Kentucky experiences considerable rainfall throughout the year, with spring storms and winter weather systems regularly reducing solar irradiance
• High humidity levels: The region's humid climate can create atmospheric haze that diminishes solar panel efficiency
• Severe weather events: Thunderstorms, hail, and occasional ice storms pose risks to solar equipment
• Tree coverage and topography: Kentucky's heavily forested landscape and rolling hills can create shading issues

Preventative Measures for Enhanced Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective: Regular maintenance becomes crucial in Kentucky's humid environment. Panels should be cleaned frequently to remove accumulated dirt, pollen, and organic debris that can significantly reduce efficiency. Installing panels with adequate spacing allows for proper air circulation, helping prevent moisture buildup and improving cooling. Careful site selection makes an enormous difference. Choose locations with minimal tree shading, particularly avoiding areas where deciduous trees might block winter sun when panels are already operating at reduced capacity. Consider the long-term growth of nearby vegetation when planning installations. Equipment selection should prioritize durability. Use panels and mounting systems rated for severe weather conditions, including hail resistance and high wind loads. Micro-inverters or power optimizers can help minimize the impact when individual panels experience shading or debris accumulation. Proper drainage around ground-mounted systems prevents water accumulation that could damage equipment or create safety hazards. For roof-mounted systems, ensure adequate structural support for both the panels and potential snow loads during winter months. While Edmonton, Kentucky offers decent solar potential during warmer months, the significant winter production drop means residents should carefully calculate their energy needs and potentially consider battery storage or grid-tie systems to maintain consistent power availability year-round.

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 Edmonton

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 36.9931, Longitude: -85.6123 (Edmonton, 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 32° South in Edmonton, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Edmonton, United States (Lat/Long 36.9931, -85.6123) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 32° 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 Edmonton, 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 Edmonton, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 32° 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 Edmonton, 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 Edmonton, 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 Edmonton, United States

Topographical Features of the Edmonton, Kentucky Region

Edmonton, Kentucky sits within the rolling hills and valleys characteristic of south-central Kentucky's Pennyroyal Plateau region. The landscape around this small community features gentle to moderate terrain with elevations typically ranging from about 600 to 900 feet above sea level. The area is part of the broader Cumberland River watershed, with numerous small creeks and tributaries creating a network of shallow valleys separated by rounded ridgelines.

The topography consists primarily of sedimentary rock formations that have been weathered over millennia, creating the region's distinctive undulating terrain. Agricultural fields and pastureland dominate much of the landscape, interspersed with patches of mixed hardwood forests. The soil composition includes limestone-derived materials that support both farming activities and natural vegetation.

The terrain becomes more pronounced as one moves toward the Cumberland River valley to the north and east, where deeper cuts in the landscape create steeper slopes and more dramatic elevation changes. To the south and west, the land tends to flatten slightly as it transitions toward the Western Kentucky Coal Field region, though it maintains its characteristic rolling nature.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations in the Edmonton area would be the gently sloping or relatively flat agricultural fields that face south or southwest. These areas offer the ideal combination of minimal grading requirements and favorable solar orientation. The rolling pastureland that characterizes much of the region provides numerous potential sites where solar arrays could be installed with minimal environmental disruption.

Ridge tops and upper slopes that have been cleared for agricultural use represent particularly attractive locations for solar development. These elevated positions typically receive unobstructed sunlight throughout the day and often have existing access roads that could facilitate construction and maintenance activities. The moderate slopes found on many of these sites would require only minor grading to achieve optimal panel positioning.

Areas near the flatter portions of the landscape, particularly those currently used for row crop agriculture, would also be well-suited for solar installations. These locations often have the advantage of being relatively level already, reducing site preparation costs. The existing agricultural infrastructure, including access roads and electrical connections to the grid, could potentially be leveraged for solar development.

Forested areas would generally be less desirable for large-scale solar development due to the environmental impact and cost of clearing trees, as well as the potential for ongoing shading issues from remaining nearby vegetation. Similarly, the steeper slopes found in some valley areas would present engineering challenges and increased installation costs that might make such locations less economically viable for solar projects.

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

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.