Solar PV Analysis of Ham Lake, United States
Ham Lake, Minnesota, is a reasonably good location for producing solar energy year-round. The amount of electricity you can get from solar panels changes with the seasons. In summer, you can expect to generate about 6.76 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for each kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. This drops to about 3.25 kWh/day in autumn and even lower to 2.28 kWh/day in winter but rises again to around 5.30 kWh/day in spring.
This means that the best time for generating solar power at this location is during the summer and spring months when there's more sunlight available throughout the day.
To get the most out of your solar panels all year round, it's recommended that they be installed at an angle facing 39 degrees South - this will help capture as much sunlight as possible across different times of the year.
However, there are some factors that could affect how much energy you're able to produce from your solar panels in Ham Lake:
1) Weather: With its cold winters and often cloudy skies, Minnesota isn't always ideal for maximizing solar power production compared to sunnier states like Arizona or California.
2) Snow: Heavy snowfall can cover up your panels making them less effective at capturing sunlight until they are cleared off.
To address these challenges:
1) Use high-quality PV modules designed specifically for low-light conditions which perform better on cloudy days or when light levels are low.
2) Install a system where snow can easily slide off or be removed without damaging the panels themselves - such as mounting them at an angle so gravity helps clear off any accumulation quickly; alternatively consider automated cleaning solutions if feasible based on installation specifics and budget considerations.
Remember though - while these factors might impact short-term production, over time (across different seasons), your system should still provide significant savings by offsetting traditional energy costs!
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 3041 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 Ham Lake
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 45.2522, Longitude: -93.245 (Ham Lake, 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 39° South in Ham Lake, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Ham Lake, United States (Lat/Long 45.2522, -93.245) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 39° 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 Ham Lake, 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 Ham Lake, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 39° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29° South in Summer | 49° South in Autumn | 59° South in Winter | 38° 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 Ham Lake, 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 Ham Lake, 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 Ham Lake, United States
Ham Lake, located in Anoka County, Minnesota, United States is characterized by a relatively flat topography with slight undulations. The region has numerous lakes and wetlands interspersed with patches of forest and farmland.
For large-scale solar PV installations, open areas with minimal shading are ideal. In the vicinity of Ham Lake, agricultural lands could be suitable for such installations as they provide large expanses of open land that receive plenty of sunlight. However, this must be balanced against the need to preserve arable land for farming purposes.
Additionally, any non-forested or non-residential areas would also be potential candidates for solar PV installation. This could include commercial or industrial zones where there may already exist infrastructure to support such projects.
The exact suitability would depend on more detailed analysis considering factors like local weather patterns (amount of sun exposure), soil stability (to support the weight of solar panels), proximity to power grids (for easy transmission) and local laws or regulations about land use for renewable energy projects.
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: Tuesday 18th of June 2024
Last Updated: Wednesday 26th of June 2024
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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.
