Solar PV Analysis of Jacksonville Beach, United States
Jacksonville Beach, Florida is a pretty good spot for generating solar energy all year round. Due to its location in the Northern Sub Tropics, there's plenty of sunlight throughout the year. The amount of electricity you can generate from solar panels changes with the seasons - you'll get about 5.82 kWh per day in summer, 4.71 kWh/day in fall, 3.49 kWh/day in winter and 6.43 kWh/day in spring for each kW of installed solar.
So what does this mean? Well, it means that spring and summer are your best bets for generating lots of solar energy at this location because these seasons have longer daylight hours and more direct sunlight.
To make sure you're getting as much energy as possible from your panels year-round, they should be tilted at an angle of about 27 degrees facing South if they are fixed panels (meaning they don't move or track the sun). This angle ensures that the panels get hit by as much sunlight as possible throughout the day and across different seasons.
As far as local factors that might affect how well your solar setup works - Jacksonville Beach is generally sunny but it does experience occasional thunderstorms especially during hurricane season which could temporarily reduce sunlight exposure to your panels or even damage them if not properly protected. Also, being a coastal area there's potential for salty air which can cause some corrosion over time on unprotected metal parts.
To prevent these issues:
1) Ensure your system is robust enough to withstand heavy rain or high winds.
2) Regular maintenance checks will help catch any potential damage early.
3) Using materials resistant to salt corrosion would also be beneficial.
Overall though these factors aren't hugely significant so with proper installation and maintenance Jacksonville Beach offers a great opportunity for harnessing solar power!
Note: The Northern Sub Tropics extend from 23.5° latitude North up to 35° 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 Jacksonville Beach
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 30.2781, Longitude: -81.4213 (Jacksonville Beach, 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 27° South in Jacksonville Beach, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Jacksonville Beach, United States (Lat/Long 30.2781, -81.4213) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 27° 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 Jacksonville Beach, 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 Jacksonville Beach, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 27° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14° South in Summer | 35° South in Autumn | 46° South in Winter | 23° 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 Jacksonville Beach, 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 Jacksonville Beach, 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 Jacksonville Beach, United States
Jacksonville Beach, United States is located in the state of Florida. The topography of the area is relatively flat, with a low elevation as it is near the coast. The area is characterized by sandy beaches and coastal plains.
In terms of suitability for large-scale solar PV installations, areas with flat land and ample sunlight are ideal. Considering this, Jacksonville Beach itself might not be the best location due to potential issues like corrosion from sea salt and less available land because of residential and commercial developments.
However, there are other areas nearby that could be suitable for such projects:
1) Rural Areas: Large-scale solar PV installations require substantial amounts of space that may not be available in urban or suburban settings. Therefore, rural areas surrounding Jacksonville could be potential sites.
2) Farmland: Some farmlands around Jacksonville might also be suitable if they are not being actively used for crops or livestock. It's important to note that this should only be considered if it doesn't disrupt local food production.
3) Landfills/Brownfields: These sites can often accommodate solar panels without conflicting with other uses or requiring significant alterations to the landscape.
4) Industrial Zones: Large industrial zones or warehouses with big rooftops can also make good locations for installing solar panels without requiring additional land use.
5) Parking lots: Large parking lots could potentially host solar canopies which would provide shade while generating electricity.
Florida has ample sunshine throughout the year making it an excellent location overall for harnessing solar energy. However, specific site selection would need a detailed assessment considering factors like sun exposure (solar irradiance), land availability and cost, proximity to power grids/infrastructure 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!
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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Tuesday 12th 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.
