Solar PV Analysis of Fort Lauderdale, United States
Fort Lauderdale, Florida is a pretty good place for generating solar energy all year round. The amount of electricity you can generate from solar panels depends on the season, but even in winter, you can still expect to produce a decent amount.
In simple terms, for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels you install, you could expect to generate around 5.91 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day in summer. In autumn this drops slightly to about 4.88 kWh/day and in winter it's around 4.42 kWh/day - which is still not bad considering it's the time of year with the shortest days and least sunlight. Springtime sees a big jump up again to around 6.67 kWh/day.
So when are the best times of year for generating solar power here? Well, spring seems to be the best season with its high daily output followed by summer despite its heat because there's plenty of sun during these months.
For fixed panel installations at this location, tilting your panels at an angle that faces 24 degrees south would give you maximum production from your solar system throughout the entire year.
But what about things that could get in the way of producing as much power as possible? Well, Fort Lauderdale is known for its tropical rainforest climate which means there can be quite a bit of cloud cover and rain particularly during hurricane season (June-November). This could potentially reduce how much energy your panels produce.
Also remember that buildings or trees might cast shadows on your panels which would also limit their effectiveness - so picking an unobstructed location for installation would be ideal.
To overcome these challenges though there are several things we can do:
1) Install more efficient solar panels: These may cost more but they'll work better under less-than-ideal conditions.
2) Use trackers: These devices move your panels so they're always facing directly towards the sun, maximizing their output.
3) Install a battery system: This lets you store excess power for use when your panels aren't generating as much (like during cloudy days or at night).
So in conclusion, while there are some challenges to using solar power in Fort Lauderdale, it's still a pretty good option and with some careful planning and possibly investing in more advanced equipment you can definitely make it work.
Note: The Northern Sub Tropics extend from 23.5° latitude North up to 35° 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 Fort Lauderdale
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 26.125, Longitude: -80.267 (Fort Lauderdale, 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 24° South in Fort Lauderdale, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Fort Lauderdale, United States (Lat/Long 26.125, -80.267) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 24° 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 Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 24° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10° South in Summer | 31° South in Autumn | 41° South in Winter | 19° 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 Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale, United States
Fort Lauderdale, located in the southeastern part of Florida, is characterized by flat terrain, as it's only about 9 feet above sea level on average. The city is also known for its extensive canal system and is near to the Atlantic Ocean. Its climate can be classified as tropical rainforest, with plenty of sunshine throughout the year.
For large-scale solar PV projects, areas that are flat and open with minimal shading would be ideal. Given Fort Lauderdale's topography and high annual sunlight exposure, there are several potential areas for such projects:
1. Unused land: There might be unused or underutilized land within or around Fort Lauderdale that could potentially host a large-scale solar farm.
2. Rooftop installations: Given the urban nature of Fort Lauderdale, another option could be rooftop solar installations on commercial or industrial buildings.
3. Near highways: Areas along highways or other transportation corridors might also serve as potential locations for solar PV installations.
4. Brownfield sites: These are previously developed sites that may have been contaminated but have since been cleaned up and are ready for reuse. They can often accommodate large scale solar installations.
5. Agricultural lands: If there's agricultural land available around Fort Lauderdale where farming isn't intensive (e.g., grazing lands), these could potentially host a dual-use (agrivoltaic) system where both agriculture and energy production coexist.
However, any specific site would require further detailed analysis considering various factors like local zoning laws, environmental impact assessments etc., before deciding on setting up a large-scale solar PV project.
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 23rd 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.
