Solar PV Analysis of Idaho Falls, United States
Idaho Falls, Idaho, is a decent location for generating solar energy all year round, but it's not the most ideal. The amount of electricity you can get from solar panels changes with each season. In summer and spring, you can expect to generate quite a bit of electricity - around 7.72 kilowatt-hours per day in summer and 6.43 kilowatt-hours per day in spring for every kilowatt of solar panels installed.
However, during autumn and winter, the output drops significantly due to fewer daylight hours and lower sun angle - down to about 3.72 kWh/day in autumn and even lower at around 2.03 kWh/day in winter.
The best times of year to generate solar power here would be during the longer days of spring and summer when the sun is higher in the sky.
To maximize your total yearly energy production from these panels at this location, they should ideally be tilted at an angle facing south by about 37 degrees.
Several factors could potentially affect your ability to produce solar power here though:
1) Weather: Idaho Falls experiences significant snowfall which could cover your panels reducing their effectiveness.
Preventative measures: Regularly clean off any accumulated snow on your panels or consider installing them at steeper angles so that snow slides off more easily.
2) Dust/Pollution: While generally not a major concern here as compared to urban areas or desert regions.
Preventive measures: Regular cleaning will help ensure dust or dirt doesn't block sunlight reaching the panel surfaces.
3) Shading: Nearby trees or buildings may cast shadows on your panels reducing their effectiveness.
Preventative measures: Consider where shadows fall throughout different times of day/year when deciding where exactly to place your installation site if possible remove any obstructions causing shading issues if feasible otherwise micro-inverters can be used which allows each panel operate independently meaning shaded ones won't affect others' performance.
So while Idaho Falls may not be the most ideal location for solar energy production, with careful planning and maintenance it could still provide a substantial amount of your home's power 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 Idaho Falls
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.5553, Longitude: -111.8922 (Idaho Falls, 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 37° South in Idaho Falls, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Idaho Falls, United States (Lat/Long 43.5553, -111.8922) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 37° 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 Idaho Falls, 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 Idaho Falls, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 37° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27° South in Summer | 47° South in Autumn | 57° South in Winter | 36° 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 Idaho Falls, 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 Idaho Falls, 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 Idaho Falls, United States
Idaho Falls, United States, is located in the Snake River Plain which is characterized by relatively flat terrain with gentle hills. The area is surrounded by mountains to the east and west; however, Idaho Falls itself maintains a fairly level topography.
The climate of Idaho Falls can be described as semi-arid with plenty of sunny days throughout the year. This makes it an ideal location for solar PV installations. However, considering factors such as land availability and cost-effectiveness, large-scale solar PV systems would be most suited in areas outside city limits where open lands are available.
Areas towards the south or southwest of Idaho Falls might be particularly suitable due to more exposure to sunlight during peak hours. Also, regions along the Snake River Plain could potentially benefit from both flat terrain and high solar irradiance levels.
However, before setting up a large-scale solar power plant specific site surveys including aspects like local weather patterns (like cloud cover), soil analysis for ground-mounted installations and environmental impact assessment should be conducted.
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: Monday 22nd of April 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.
