Solar PV Analysis of Elizabethtown, United States
Elizabethtown, Kentucky in the United States is a pretty decent place for generating solar energy year-round. The amount of electricity that can be produced from solar panels depends on the season. During summer, you can expect to generate around 6.42 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. In autumn, this drops to about 3.97 kWh/day per kW, and in winter it's even lower at around 2.34 kWh/day per kW due to less sunlight hours and more cloudy days typically associated with these seasons. However, production picks up again in spring with an average output of about 5.58 kWh/day per kW.
The most ideal time to generate solar power at this location would be during the summer months when there are more daylight hours and direct sunlight is abundant due to long sunny days typical of this season.
For maximum efficiency throughout the year, fixed panel installations should ideally be tilted at an angle of 33 degrees facing South which aligns them better towards the sun’s path across the sky ensuring they receive as much sunlight as possible throughout different times of year.
As for potential environmental or weather factors that could hinder solar production; Elizabethtown experiences some seasonal variability with rainfall and occasional snowfall during winter months which may obstruct sunlight reaching your panels temporarily until cleared away by wind or manually cleaned off by maintenance personnel if needed.
Additionally, high temperatures during peak summer months may also reduce overall efficiency slightly since photovoltaic cells tend to perform less efficiently under extreme heat conditions although not significantly enough to discourage installation altogether.
To overcome these challenges; regular cleaning/maintenance ensures debris such as fallen leaves/snow does not block your panels while installing cooling systems or choosing PV modules designed specifically for higher temperature resistance might help mitigate loss from overheating issues during hot summers.
Overall though; given its relatively good sunshine availability and climate, Elizabethtown is a fairly good location for solar energy production year-round with the right installation setup and maintenance practices.
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 Elizabethtown
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 37.6875, Longitude: -85.8747 (Elizabethtown, 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 Elizabethtown, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Elizabethtown, United States (Lat/Long 37.6875, -85.8747) 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 Elizabethtown, 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 Elizabethtown, 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 | 53° 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 Elizabethtown, 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 Elizabethtown, 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 Elizabethtown, United States
Elizabethtown, Kentucky is located in the Bluegrass region of the United States. The topography of this area is generally characterized by gently rolling hills with broad river valleys. The landscape is mostly covered with grassland and deciduous forests.
In terms of large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping areas are typically most suitable as they require less site preparation and can maximize exposure to sunlight. Therefore, the broad river valleys around Elizabethtown could potentially be suitable for such installations.
However, it's also important to consider factors like local climate (amount of annual sunshine), proximity to power grids for energy transmission, and potential environmental impacts when evaluating suitability for solar power projects. For example, while agricultural fields may seem ideal due to their flatness and openness, there might be issues related to land use change from food production to energy generation.
Additionally, locations near existing infrastructure (like buildings or parking lots) could also be considered for smaller-scale distributed solar PV systems which can feed directly into the local grid without requiring extensive transmission networks.
Lastly but importantly one should always refer a detailed feasibility study conducted by professionals before deciding on any large scale project as many other factors like soil condition etc also play an important role in decision making process.
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: Thursday 28th of March 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.
