Solar PV Analysis of Fairfax, United States
Fairfax, Oklahoma is a decent location for generating energy through solar power all year round. However, the amount of electricity that can be produced varies significantly depending on the season.
In summer, you can expect to generate about 7.04 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for every kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power. This drops to 4.58 kWh/day in autumn and further decreases to 2.98 kWh/day in winter due to shorter daylight hours and lower sun angle. In spring, it rises again to around 5.27 kWh/day per kW.
So if you're thinking about when would be the best time of year for generating solar energy at this location, summer is definitely your prime time followed by spring and autumn while winter would be least productive.
For a fixed panel installation here in Fairfax, tilting your panels at an angle of 32 degrees towards the south will give you maximum total production from your solar PV system throughout the year.
Now let's talk about some local factors that could affect your solar production:
Fairfax experiences a variety of weather conditions like any other place on earth; cloudy days or storms will reduce sunlight exposure which reduces how much electricity your panels can produce.
Also worth noting is potential damage from severe weather events such as hailstorms or tornadoes - these are not uncommon occurrences in Oklahoma and they could potentially damage or destroy unprotected panels.
To mitigate these risks when installing a solar system:
1) Consider using durable materials designed to withstand harsh weather conditions.
2) Regular cleaning and maintenance are also crucial as dust accumulation or snow cover can block sunlight and decrease efficiency.
3) It may also be worthwhile investing in comprehensive insurance coverage for your system against storm-related damages.
4) If possible, consider installing tracking systems which allow panels to move with the sun maximizing their exposure throughout the day regardless of season - however this does add additional cost and complexity to the system.
In conclusion, while Fairfax, Oklahoma is not the most ideal location for solar energy production due to seasonal variations and potential weather-related challenges, it's still a viable option with proper planning and precautions.
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 Fairfax
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 36.5577, Longitude: -96.6997 (Fairfax, 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 Fairfax, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Fairfax, United States (Lat/Long 36.5577, -96.6997) 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 Fairfax, 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 Fairfax, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20° South in Summer | 41° 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 Fairfax, 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 Fairfax, 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 Fairfax, United States
Fairfax, Oklahoma is located in Osage County and it lies within the Great Plains of the United States. The topography around Fairfax is relatively flat with some rolling hills. It's characterized by grasslands, prairies, and some forested areas.
For large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, flat or gently sloping lands are preferable as they require less site preparation and can accommodate more panels. Therefore, the plains around Fairfax would be suitable for such projects.
However, factors other than topography also play a crucial role in determining the suitability for solar PV like sunlight availability (solar irradiance), local climate conditions, land use restrictions etc. In this regard, Oklahoma receives ample sunlight throughout the year making it a good candidate for solar energy generation.
Specific locations for large-scale solar PV should ideally be away from residential areas to minimize potential conflicts over land use but close enough to existing power grid infrastructure to facilitate easy connection and transmission of generated electricity. It's also important that these locations are not ecologically sensitive or valuable farmland which could pose environmental concerns or food security issues respectively.
A detailed site assessment including all these factors would give a precise answer on most suited areas nearby Fairfax for large-scale solar PV installations.
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: Friday 7th of June 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.
