Solar PV Analysis of Great Neck, United States
Great Neck, New York, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a moderate potential for solar energy generation throughout the year. The location's solar productivity varies significantly across seasons, with summer being the most productive period and winter the least.
Seasonal Solar Output
During summer, solar panels in Great Neck can generate an impressive 6.15 kWh per day for each kW of installed capacity. This output drops to 3.69 kWh/day in autumn and further decreases to 2.20 kWh/day in winter. Spring sees a substantial increase, with panels producing 5.69 kWh/day. These figures indicate that Great Neck experiences a considerable fluctuation in solar energy potential throughout the year.
Optimal Installation
To maximize year-round solar energy production in Great Neck, fixed solar panels should be installed at a tilt angle of 35 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize energy capture across all seasons, taking into account the location's latitude and the Earth's elliptical orbit.
Best Times for Solar Generation
The most ideal times for solar energy generation in Great Neck are during the spring and summer months. From late March through September, longer daylight hours and higher sun angles contribute to increased solar panel efficiency. However, even during the less productive autumn and winter months, solar panels can still generate a meaningful amount of electricity.
Environmental and Weather Factors
While Great Neck's location is generally favorable for solar energy production, there are some environmental and weather factors that could impact efficiency:
- Snow accumulation during winter months can temporarily reduce panel output
- Coastal location may lead to increased humidity and salt exposure, potentially affecting panel longevity
To mitigate these factors, consider installing panels at a slightly steeper angle to encourage snow sliding off and using corrosion-resistant materials for mounting hardware. Regular cleaning and maintenance can also help ensure optimal performance throughout the year.
Overall, while Great Neck may not be the most ideal location for year-round solar energy production due to its seasonal variations, it still offers significant potential, especially during the spring and summer months. With proper installation and maintenance, solar PV systems can provide a substantial contribution to local energy needs.
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 Neck
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 40.789, Longitude: -73.7262 (Great Neck, 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 35° South in Great Neck, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Great Neck, United States (Lat/Long 40.789, -73.7262) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 35° 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 Neck, 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 Neck, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 35° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24° South in Summer | 45° South in Autumn | 56° South in Winter | 33° 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 Neck, 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 Neck, 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 Neck, United States
The topography around Great Neck, located on Long Island in New York, is generally characterized by gently rolling terrain with low elevations. This area is part of the coastal plain that extends along much of the Atlantic seaboard. The landscape is mostly flat to slightly undulating, with some small hills and shallow valleys.
Great Neck itself is situated on a peninsula that juts out into Long Island Sound. The coastline in this area is irregular, featuring numerous small bays, inlets, and coves. As you move inland from the shore, the terrain gradually rises, but overall remains relatively low-lying. The highest points in the vicinity are typically no more than 100-200 feet above sea level.
The surrounding area includes a mix of suburban development, parks, and some remaining pockets of natural vegetation. Much of the original landscape has been altered by human activity, including residential and commercial development, as well as the creation of parks and golf courses.
Regarding large-scale solar PV installations, the most suitable areas nearby would likely be found further east on Long Island, away from the more densely populated regions near Great Neck. The eastern parts of Suffolk County, particularly in agricultural areas or on former industrial sites, might offer better opportunities for solar development. These areas tend to have more open, flat land that could accommodate large solar arrays.
However, it's important to note that Long Island as a whole faces challenges for large-scale solar development due to its high population density and limited available land. Smaller-scale solar installations on rooftops and in parking lots are more common in this region. For truly large-scale solar PV projects, areas further upstate in New York or in neighboring states with more available open land might be more suitable.
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 29th of August 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.
