Kings Park, New York, United States offers a moderately good location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations typical of the Northern Temperate Zone climate.

Seasonal Solar Production Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows strong seasonal patterns. Summer provides the highest energy production at 6.14 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the peak season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best performing season with 5.64 kWh per day per kW, offering nearly comparable output to summer months. Autumn sees a notable decline in production to 3.62 kWh per day per kW, while winter represents the most challenging period with only 2.11 kWh per day per kW. This winter production level is less than half of the spring output and roughly one-third of summer production.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For maximum year-round energy production at Kings Park, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 35 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize total annual solar output by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year and weighting for daily solar potential.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in Kings Park can significantly impact solar energy generation:

• Snow accumulation during winter months can block panels and reduce already limited winter production
• Coastal proximity brings salt air that can corrode panel frames and mounting systems over time
• Frequent cloud cover and storms, particularly during autumn and winter, can reduce solar irradiance
• High humidity levels can promote algae and mold growth on panel surfaces
• Deciduous trees common in the area can create seasonal shading issues

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize solar production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective. Panels should be mounted with adequate tilt to encourage snow shedding and positioned to avoid shading from nearby vegetation. Using corrosion-resistant aluminum frames and stainless steel mounting hardware helps combat salt air effects. Regular maintenance scheduling becomes particularly important, including quarterly cleaning to remove salt residue, pollen, and organic growth. Installing panels with sufficient clearance from roof surfaces promotes air circulation and reduces moisture buildup that encourages biological growth. Careful site assessment should identify and address potential shading from trees, with consideration given to future tree growth. Where possible, strategic tree trimming or removal can significantly improve long-term solar production, particularly during the already challenging autumn and winter months.

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 Kings Park

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 40.8861, Longitude: -73.2438 (Kings Park, 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 Kings Park, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Kings Park, United States (Lat/Long 40.8861, -73.2438) 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 Kings Park, 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 Kings Park, 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
24° South in Summer	45° South in Autumn	56° South in Winter	34° 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 Kings Park, 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 Kings Park, United States.

Our calculation method

1. Solar Position:
   We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination.
2. Shadow Projection:
   We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle.
3. 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 Kings Park, United States

Topography Around Kings Park, New York

Kings Park is situated on the North Shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York, positioned along the gently rolling terrain that characterizes much of this coastal region. The area sits at a moderate elevation above sea level, with the landscape featuring subtle hills and valleys that were shaped by glacial activity thousands of years ago. The topography gradually slopes toward the Long Island Sound to the north, creating a natural drainage pattern that has influenced both residential development and the preservation of open spaces. The immediate vicinity around Kings Park displays a mix of residential neighborhoods built on relatively level ground, interspersed with patches of preserved woodland and former institutional grounds. The terrain becomes more varied as one moves inland from the sound, with gentle ridges and depressions creating a moderately undulating landscape. These elevation changes are generally modest, rarely presenting steep slopes or dramatic changes in grade that would significantly impact large-scale development projects.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar PV Development

The most promising locations for substantial solar photovoltaic installations in the Kings Park vicinity would be the expansive open areas that remain relatively undeveloped. The former Kings Park Psychiatric Center grounds represent one of the most significant opportunities, as this large tract contains substantial cleared areas with minimal tree cover and relatively flat terrain. These characteristics make the site highly suitable for solar array placement, as the level ground would minimize grading requirements and reduce installation costs. Moving eastward from Kings Park, the topography of central Suffolk County becomes increasingly favorable for large-scale solar development. Areas around Hauppauge, Ronkonkoma, and the Long Island MacArthur Airport corridor feature extensive flat to gently rolling terrain with fewer residential constraints. These locations benefit from their position on the relatively level central spine of Long Island, where the glacial outwash plains created ideal conditions for large-scale ground-mounted solar installations. The agricultural areas that still exist in eastern Suffolk County, particularly around Riverhead and further east toward the North and South Forks, offer additional opportunities for solar development. These regions feature large, relatively flat parcels that could accommodate utility-scale solar farms while taking advantage of the open exposure and minimal shading from surrounding structures or vegetation. The rural character of these areas also means fewer residential objections and more straightforward permitting processes compared to the more densely developed western portions of the county. Industrial and commercial zones along major transportation corridors, such as those near the Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway, present another category of suitable locations. These areas often contain large, flat parcels that were originally developed for manufacturing or warehousing, and many have the electrical infrastructure already in place to support substantial power generation facilities. The existing industrial character of these zones also makes them more compatible with large-scale solar installations from a land-use planning perspective.

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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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.