Solar PV Analysis of Highlands Ranch, United States
Highlands Ranch, Colorado in the United States is a decent location for generating solar power throughout the year. The amount of energy that can be produced varies depending on the season.
During summer, you can expect to generate about 7.11 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for every kilowatt (kW) of installed solar panels. This is when your panels will produce the most energy because there are more hours of sunlight and it's usually clearer weather.
In autumn, this number drops to around 4.56 kWh/day per kW due to shorter days and less intense sunlight.
Winter sees further reduction with an average output dropping down to approximately 3.24 kWh/day per kW because there are even fewer daylight hours and often more cloud cover.
Spring offers a significant increase again with about 6.02 kWh/day per kW as days start getting longer and sunnier again.
So, while production dips during autumn and winter months, spring and summer offer high yields making it worthwhile overall.
For fixed panel installations at this location, tilting your panels at an angle of about 35 degrees towards South would help maximize total year-round production from solar photovoltaic (PV).
As for potential impediments to solar production in Highlands Ranch - one key factor could be snowfall during winter months which may cover your panels thus reducing their efficiency significantly until cleared off.
To prevent this issue affecting power generation too much you might consider installing automated panel cleaning systems or snow guards designed specifically for solar arrays so that snow slides off easily without accumulating on top of them.
Additionally ensuring regular maintenance checks also helps keep track if any other environmental or local factors like dust or bird droppings are impacting system performance negatively over time.
Ultimately though despite these challenges, Highlands Ranch still offers good potential for harnessing solar energy effectively across different seasons if managed well!
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 Highlands Ranch
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.5437, Longitude: -105.0136 (Highlands Ranch, 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 Highlands Ranch, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Highlands Ranch, United States (Lat/Long 39.5437, -105.0136) 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 Highlands Ranch, 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 Highlands Ranch, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23° South in Summer | 44° South in Autumn | 54° 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 Highlands Ranch, 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 Highlands Ranch, 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 Highlands Ranch, United States
Highlands Ranch, Colorado is located on the western edge of the Great Plains and to the east of the Rocky Mountains. The area's topography is characterized by rolling hills, grasslands, and sparse forests. The elevation varies from about 5,800 feet to 6,200 feet above sea level.
Given this topography and considering other factors such as average annual sunshine hours (Colorado averages more than 300 days of sun per year), solar radiation intensity (which is generally high in Colorado due to its altitude), land availability and zoning regulations; large-scale solar PV installations could be most suited for open grassland areas around Highlands Ranch that are not shaded by hills or forests.
These areas could include undeveloped lands towards East of Highlands Ranch where it's relatively flatter compared to West which has higher elevations due to start of Rocky mountains foothills. Also South-Eastern side towards Castle Pines or Castle Rock can also be considered.
However, a detailed feasibility study would need to be conducted before deciding on specific locations for large-scale solar PV installations considering all technical parameters like slope angle/aspect along with socio-economic aspects like land use policy etc.
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 21st 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.
