Solar PV Analysis of Kingston, United States
The location at Kingston, Washington in the United States is somewhat ideal for generating solar energy throughout the year. The best time to generate solar energy is during the summer and spring months when daily production can reach up to 6.91kWh/day and 5.21kWh/day respectively per kW of installed solar power. This means that during these periods, your solar panels will be able to generate a good amount of electricity.
However, during autumn and winter, you can expect lower production levels with only 2.54kWh/day and 1.33kWh/day respectively per kW of installed solar power due to shorter daylight hours and less intense sunlight.
For a fixed panel installation at this location, tilting your panels at an angle of 40 degrees towards the south would maximize total annual production from your solar PV system because it aligns them better with the sun's path across the sky.
As for local factors that could affect or impede your ability to produce electricity from sunlight in Kingston, Washington:
1) Weather: With its northern temperate climate zone location, Kingston experiences significant cloud cover especially in winter months which may reduce sunlight exposure on panels.
Preventative measure: Regular cleaning and maintenance of your panels can help ensure they're working as efficiently as possible even under less than ideal weather conditions.
2) Topography: Depending on where exactly you are located within Kingston (e.g., if you're situated in a valley or surrounded by tall trees or buildings), these might block direct sunlight from reaching your panels.
Preventative measure: Choose an installation site that has clear access to southern skies without obstructions blocking direct sunlight for most parts of the day all year round.
3) Environmental Factors: Birds droppings or falling leaves may occasionally dirty your panels reducing their efficiency.
Preventative measure: Regularly clean off any debris from panel surfaces so they can absorb maximum available light.
In summary, while Kingston, Washington is not the most ideal location for solar energy production due to its seasonal weather variations and potential topographical challenges, with the right installation strategies and regular maintenance, it can still be a viable option for generating renewable energy.
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 Kingston
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 47.8019, Longitude: -122.5275 (Kingston, 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 40° South in Kingston, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Kingston, United States (Lat/Long 47.8019, -122.5275) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 40° 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 Kingston, 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 Kingston, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 40° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31° South in Summer | 50° South in Autumn | 62° South in Winter | 40° 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 Kingston, 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 Kingston, 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 Kingston, United States
Kingston, United States (Washington) is located in the Kitsap Peninsula, which is characterized by a mixed topography of coastal areas, forests, hills and flat lands. It's surrounded by water bodies including the Puget Sound and the Hood Canal. The area has a significant amount of tree cover which could potentially limit solar exposure in some areas.
However, there are still open and relatively flat areas that could be suitable for large-scale solar PV installations. Large scale solar projects would likely require clearing of land if forested areas were to be used or they could be installed on already cleared land such as agricultural fields or other open spaces.
It's important to note that while Washington state does receive less sunlight than states like California or Arizona due to its northern latitude and frequent cloud cover, it doesn't mean solar power is not feasible. Germany, for example, receives similar amounts of sunlight as Washington but has one of the highest capacities for solar power in the world.
The suitability for large scale Solar PV would also depend on local regulations and policies around renewable energy development so these factors should also be considered when evaluating potential sites.
In terms of specific nearby locations with potential: The Dungeness Valley near Sequim (to the west across Puget Sound) is known as "the blue hole" because it receives significantly more sunshine than much of western Washington due its position in the rain shadow of Olympic Mountains. This might make it a particularly attractive location for large-scale solar installations.
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: Saturday 2nd 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.
