Solar PV Analysis of Hicksville, United States
Hicksville, New York, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a moderate potential for solar energy generation throughout the year. The location's seasonal solar output varies significantly, with peak production occurring during the summer months.
Seasonal Solar Performance
Summer stands out as the most productive season, with an average daily output of 6.15 kWh per kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely, generating 5.69 kWh/day. Autumn sees a noticeable decrease in production, with 3.69 kWh/day, while winter experiences the lowest output at 2.20 kWh/day.
The substantial difference between summer and winter production highlights the impact of seasonal variations on solar energy generation in Hicksville. This pattern is typical for locations in the Northern Temperate Zone, where daylight hours and sun angle change significantly throughout the year.
Optimal Panel Installation
To maximize year-round solar production in Hicksville, fixed solar panels should be installed at a tilt angle of 35 degrees facing south. This angle optimizes the panels' exposure to sunlight across all seasons, balancing the high summer sun with the lower winter sun angle.
Environmental and Weather Considerations
While Hicksville's climate is generally favorable for solar energy production, there are some factors that could impact efficiency:
- Snow accumulation in winter can temporarily reduce panel output
- Occasional severe weather events, such as hurricanes or nor'easters, may pose risks to solar installations
To mitigate these issues, consider installing panels at a steeper angle to promote snow sliding off and using robust mounting systems designed to withstand high winds. Regular maintenance and cleaning, especially after snowfall or storms, can help ensure optimal performance year-round.
Despite these challenges, Hicksville's location still offers a good opportunity for solar energy generation, particularly from late spring through early fall. With proper installation and maintenance, solar PV systems can provide a significant portion of a household's or business's energy needs throughout the year.
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 Hicksville
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 40.7684, Longitude: -73.5254 (Hicksville, 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 Hicksville, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Hicksville, United States (Lat/Long 40.7684, -73.5254) 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 Hicksville, 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 Hicksville, 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 Hicksville, 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 Hicksville, 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 Hicksville, United States
The area around Hicksville, located on Long Island in New York, is characterized by relatively flat terrain typical of coastal plains. This region, part of the larger Atlantic Coastal Plain, features a gentle, gradually sloping landscape with minimal elevation changes. The topography is primarily the result of glacial activity during the last ice age, which left behind a mix of sandy and gravelly deposits.
The land in and around Hicksville is mostly low-lying, with elevations generally ranging from about 50 to 150 feet above sea level. There are no significant hills or mountains in the immediate vicinity. The terrain is punctuated by subtle undulations and shallow depressions, some of which may contain small ponds or wetlands. The overall flatness of the area is interrupted only by minor variations in the landscape, such as slight rises and shallow valleys created by small streams and creeks.
As for areas nearby that would be most suited to large-scale solar PV (photovoltaic) installations, several factors need to be considered:
- Open spaces: The best locations would be areas with large, unobstructed plots of land. Former agricultural fields or unused industrial zones on the outskirts of towns would be ideal.
- Minimal shading: Areas away from tall buildings or dense forests would be preferable to maximize sunlight exposure.
- Flat terrain: While the entire region is relatively flat, the flattest areas would be most suitable for easy installation and maintenance of solar panels.
- Proximity to power infrastructure: Locations near existing electrical substations or transmission lines would be advantageous for connecting to the grid.
Given these criteria, some of the more suitable areas for large-scale solar PV installations near Hicksville might include:
- Open spaces to the east and southeast of Hicksville, towards Bethpage and Farmingdale, where there are larger plots of land with less dense development.
- Areas north of Hicksville, towards Jericho and Brookville, where there are more expansive properties and potentially unused land.
- Sections of land along the Long Island Expressway corridor, where there might be suitable industrial or commercial zones that could accommodate large solar installations.
It's important to note that any large-scale solar project would need to comply with local zoning laws, environmental regulations, and community preferences. The densely populated nature of Long Island means that finding extensive, contiguous areas for very large solar farms might be challenging, and smaller, distributed projects may be more feasible in this region.
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: Sunday 21st of July 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.
