Solar PV Analysis of Great Mills, United States
Great Mills, Maryland, in the US is a decent location for generating solar power all year round. However, the effectiveness varies by season. During summer and spring, you can expect to generate a lot of electricity (6.69kWh/day and 5.95kWh/day respectively per kW of installed solar). During autumn and winter, the output drops (to 4.08 kWh/day and 2.49 kWh/day respectively per kW of installed solar), but it's still reasonable.
To get the most out of your solar panels in Great Mills year-round, they should be tilted at an angle of 33 degrees facing South if they are fixed installations - this will help to capture as much sunlight as possible over the course of each day throughout the year.
There might be some local factors that could affect how much energy you're able to generate from your panels in Great Mills though. For instance:
- Weather: Maryland does experience cloudy days which could limit sunlight exposure.
- Environmental/Topography: If there are many tall buildings or trees around that cast shadows on your panels during parts of the day, this could reduce their effectiveness.
- Other factors: Dust or debris on your panels can also block sunlight and reduce efficiency.
To help ensure greater energy production despite these potential challenges:
- Regularly clean off any dust or debris from your panels.
- Trim any overhanging branches from nearby trees that may cast shadows on your panels.
- Consider installing tracking mounts which allow your panels to move with sun’s position during day for maximum exposure if there are many tall buildings around.
In summary, while Great Mills isn't perfect for solar energy production due to seasonal variation in sunshine hours and potential local impediments such as weather conditions or obstructions casting shadows onto PV arrays; with proper installation angle orientation towards south at a tilt degree of 33°and regular maintenance like cleaning off dust/debris or trimming overhanging branches, it is still a viable location for solar energy generation.
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 Great Mills
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 38.2674, Longitude: -76.4954 (Great Mills, 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 Great Mills, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Great Mills, United States (Lat/Long 38.2674, -76.4954) 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 Great Mills, 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 Great Mills, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22° South in Summer | 43° South in Autumn | 53° South in Winter | 31° 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 Great Mills, 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 Great Mills, 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 Great Mills, United States
Great Mills, located in Maryland, United States, is characterized by a mix of flat and hilly terrains. It's part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain which means it has relatively low-lying land with some small hills and valleys. The region is also surrounded by water bodies like the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping areas are ideal as they require less site preparation and can accommodate more panels. Given this, the flatter parts of Great Mills could be suitable for such projects. Additionally, areas that have high sun exposure throughout the year are also beneficial for solar energy generation.
However, it's important to note that factors such as local zoning regulations, proximity to transmission lines or substations (for grid connection), environmental impact considerations (like avoiding wetlands or protected natural areas), and land cost would also play a significant role in determining the suitability of a location for large-scale solar PV projects.
A detailed site-specific assessment would be necessary to identify most suitable locations around Great Mills 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: Sunday 10th of March 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.
