Fulton, New York, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, presents a mixed picture for year-round solar energy generation. The location experiences significant seasonal variation in solar output, which is typical for its latitude and climate zone.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Summer delivers the strongest solar production at 6.10 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it the peak season for solar energy generation. Spring follows as the second-best performing season with 5.18 kWh per day per kW, offering excellent solar conditions as daylight hours increase and weather improves. Autumn shows a notable decline to 2.87 kWh per day per kW as the region transitions into the colder months. Winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 1.49 kWh per day per kW, representing less than a quarter of summer production levels.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For fixed panel installations at this Fulton location, the ideal tilt angle is 36 degrees facing south to maximize total year-round solar production. This angle is calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles throughout the year and weighting them according to solar irradiance data.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in the Fulton area can significantly impact solar energy production:

• Heavy snow accumulation during winter months can completely block solar panels
• Frequent cloud cover and overcast conditions, particularly in autumn and winter
• Lake-effect weather patterns from nearby Lake Ontario creating additional cloud cover and precipitation
• Ice formation on panels during freeze-thaw cycles
• Seasonal debris from deciduous trees

Preventative Measures for Better Performance

Several installation strategies can help maximize solar production despite these challenges:

• Install panels at steeper angles (closer to 45-50 degrees) to promote natural snow shedding, though this may reduce overall annual output slightly
• Choose mounting systems that allow safe manual snow removal when necessary
• Ensure adequate spacing between panel rows to prevent snow accumulation and shading
• Select high-quality panels with anti-reflective coatings that perform better in low-light conditions
• Position installations away from large deciduous trees or plan for regular cleaning during leaf-fall season
• Consider micro-inverters or power optimizers to minimize impact when individual panels are partially shaded or snow-covered

The spring and summer months from approximately April through September represent the ideal time for solar generation at this location, producing roughly 85% of annual solar output during this period.

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 Fulton

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.3195, Longitude: -76.4178 (Fulton, 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 36° South in Fulton, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Fulton, United States (Lat/Long 43.3195, -76.4178) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 36° 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 Fulton, 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 Fulton, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 36° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
27° South in Summer	47° South in Autumn	58° South in Winter	36° 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 Fulton, 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 Fulton, 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 Fulton, United States

Topographical Features Around Fulton, New York

The landscape surrounding Fulton, New York is characterized by gently rolling terrain typical of the Finger Lakes region in central New York State. This area sits within the Oswego River valley system, creating a relatively flat to moderately undulating topography that extends across much of Oswego County. The elevation changes are generally gradual, with most of the surrounding countryside featuring gentle slopes and broad, open valleys that were shaped by glacial activity thousands of years ago.

The immediate vicinity of Fulton benefits from its position along the Oswego River, which flows northward toward Lake Ontario approximately fifteen miles to the north. This river corridor has created a natural lowland area with minimal steep grades. The terrain gradually rises as one moves away from the river valley, but the increases in elevation are typically modest and spread over considerable distances.

Agricultural fields dominate much of the landscape around Fulton, indicating that the topography has historically been conducive to farming activities. These areas feature relatively level ground with occasional gentle ridges and shallow depressions. Mixed hardwood forests occupy some of the slightly more elevated areas, while wetlands and marshy zones can be found in the lower-lying sections near waterways.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The agricultural lands extending south and east of Fulton present the most promising opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. These areas combine several favorable characteristics including relatively flat terrain, minimal tree cover, and existing cleared land that would require less preparation for solar development. The gentle topography in these agricultural zones allows for efficient panel placement and maintenance access while minimizing the need for extensive grading or earthwork.

The broad, open fields that stretch toward the communities of Phoenix and Baldwinsville offer particularly suitable conditions. These areas feature consistent southern exposure across large contiguous parcels, which is essential for maximizing solar energy capture throughout the day. The gradual, south-facing slopes found in parts of this region are especially well-suited for solar arrays as they naturally orient panels toward the sun's path.

Areas west of Fulton, extending toward the Lake Ontario shoreline, also present good potential despite being slightly more variable in elevation. The generally open character of this landscape, combined with its proximity to existing electrical transmission infrastructure, makes it attractive for solar development. However, developers would need to carefully evaluate specific sites to avoid wetland areas and ensure adequate drainage.

The terrain immediately north of Fulton, while relatively flat, includes more developed areas and scattered woodlands that might present greater challenges for large-scale installations. The most practical approach for major solar projects would focus on the agricultural lands to the south and east, where the combination of favorable topography, existing land use patterns, and accessibility create optimal conditions for solar energy generation.

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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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.