Solar PV Analysis of Kaneohe, United States
Kaneohe, Hawaii is a pretty good place for generating energy through solar panels all year round. This is because it's in the Tropics where sunlight is consistent throughout most of the year. The seasons here are usually more about wet and dry periods rather than big changes in temperature or sunlight.
In terms of how much electricity you could expect to generate from each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power, you'd get around 7.73 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in Summer, 5.99 kWh/day in Autumn, 4.70 kWh/day in Winter and 7.03 kWh/day in Spring.
This means that Summer and Spring would be the best times to generate solar power at this location since these are when your panels would produce the most electricity.
For a fixed panel installation at this location, tilting your panels at an angle of 18 degrees South will help maximize their total yearly production from solar photovoltaic (PV).
However, there may be some local factors that could interfere with how much energy your solar panels can produce. For example:
1) Weather: In Kaneohe, it rains quite often which could reduce the amount of sunlight reaching your panels.
2) Environment: If there are any tall buildings or trees near your property they might block sunlight from reaching your panels.
3) Pollution: Air pollution can also reduce how much sun reaches your panels but this isn't usually a big issue in Kaneohe.
To help ensure greater energy production despite these challenges:
- You might want to consider installing additional equipment like rain sensors which automatically adjust panel angles during heavy rainfall to prevent damage and maintain efficiency.
- Regular cleaning can also keep dust or dirt from blocking sunlight.
- Trimming nearby trees or choosing an installation site away from potential shade sources can also help increase exposure to sun rays.
So overall while there may be some challenges due to weather and local environment, with the right set-up and maintenance, Kaneohe can be a very effective place for solar energy production.
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 Kaneohe
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 21.4254, Longitude: -157.8138 (Kaneohe, 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 18° South in Kaneohe, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Kaneohe, United States (Lat/Long 21.4254, -157.8138) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 18° 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 Kaneohe, 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 Kaneohe, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 18° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5° South in Summer | 27° South in Autumn | 37° South in Winter | 14° 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 Kaneohe, 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 Kaneohe, 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 Kaneohe, United States
Kaneohe is located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, United States. The topography around Kaneohe is characterized by a mix of coastal plains and mountainous areas, with the Koolau Mountain Range to the east and Kaneohe Bay to the west. It has a tropical rainforest climate, which means it receives substantial sunlight but also experiences frequent rainfall.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping areas are usually preferred as they require less site preparation and can accommodate more panels per unit area. In this regard, coastal plains around Kaneohe could be suitable for such projects. However, considering that these areas might be densely populated or used for agriculture/tourism-related activities (given its proximity to Honolulu), it may not always be feasible.
Alternatively, south-facing slopes of mountains could also be considered for solar PV installations since they would receive ample sunlight throughout the day.
However, any decision on potential sites should take into account various factors like local land use regulations/restrictions (if any), environmental impact assessments (especially given Hawaii's unique biodiversity) and detailed solar resource assessment (considering cloud cover patterns etc.).
Also important to note is that while Hawaii gets good sunshine being near equator making it generally good for solar power generation; its high humidity levels along with frequent rains can affect efficiency of Solar PVs - hence selection & design of Solar PV system needs careful consideration.
Lastly due to island location; issues related to grid stability & energy storage need special attention when planning large scale Solar PVs in such regions.
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: Friday 24th of May 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.
