Solar PV Analysis of Kailua-Kona, United States
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii is a great place for year-round solar energy production due to its tropical location. The amount of sunlight it gets is consistent throughout the year, making it an ideal spot for solar panels.
During the summer season, each kilowatt of installed solar can produce about 6.94 kilowatt-hours per day. In autumn, this decreases slightly to 5.79 kilowatt-hours per day but is still quite good. Winter sees a further decrease with each kilowatt producing around 4.59-kilowatt hours per day due to shorter days and lower sun angles, but this picks up again in spring with around 6.14-kilowatt hours produced per day.
The best time to generate solar power at this location would be during the summer and spring when sunlight intensity is high.
For optimal energy production from your solar panels in Kailua-Kona, you should tilt them at an angle of 17 degrees towards the south which maximizes their exposure to sunlight throughout the year.
However, there are some factors that could affect your solar panel's performance in Kailua-Kona:
1) Weather: Hawaii experiences tropical storms and hurricanes which can damage or obstruct your panels with debris.
Preventative Measures: Use durable materials when installing your panels and ensure they are securely fastened to resist strong winds.
2) Topography: The landscape or surrounding buildings might cast shadows on your panels reducing their efficiency.
Preventative Measures: Choose a location that gets unobstructed sunlight for most of the day.
3) Environmental Factors: Birds droppings or dust can accumulate on your panels reducing their efficiency.
Preventative Measures: Regularly clean your panels to keep them working at peak efficiency.
In summary, while there are some challenges associated with installing solar power in Kailua-Kona due mainly weather conditions and potential obstructions; these can be mitigated with careful planning and maintenance. The consistent sunlight makes it an excellent location for solar power generation throughout the year.
Note: The Tropics are located between 23.5° North and -23.5° South of the equator.
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 Kailua-Kona
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 19.654, Longitude: -155.9773 (Kailua-Kona, 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 17° South in Kailua-Kona, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Kailua-Kona, United States (Lat/Long 19.654, -155.9773) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 17° 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 Kailua-Kona, 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 Kailua-Kona, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 17° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4° South in Summer | 25° South in Autumn | 35° South in Winter | 13° 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 Kailua-Kona, 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 Kailua-Kona, 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 Kailua-Kona, United States
The topography around Kailua-Kona is mostly flat with some rolling hills. The nearby areas that would be most suited to large scale solar PV are the open, sunny areas on the west side of town, such as the plains and slopes along Highway 19. These areas have plenty of space for large arrays and get a lot of direct sunlight throughout the year.
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: Wednesday 22nd of November 2023
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.
