Solar PV Analysis of Lakewood, United States
Lakewood, Ohio is a decent location for generating solar energy year-round, but it's not the best. The amount of electricity you can get from solar panels depends on how much sunlight they receive. In Lakewood, the sunniest period is in the summer when you can expect to generate about 6 kilowatt-hours per day for each kilowatt of installed solar panels.
In spring and autumn, you'll get less power because there's less sunlight - around 5.4 kWh/day in spring and 3.29 kWh/day in autumn per kW of installed solar panels.
Winter is the least productive time for solar energy in Lakewood due to shorter days and more cloud cover; you might only generate about 1.79 kWh/day per kW of installed solar.
To maximize your total yearly production from your solar panel system at this location, ideally tilt your panels at an angle facing south by 35 degrees.
However, there are some local factors that could affect how much power your panels produce:
1) Weather: Lakewood experiences all four seasons with cloudy winters which could reduce output during those months.
2) Environmental: There may be trees or buildings that block sunlight reaching your panels depending on where they're installed.
3) Snowfall: Heavy snowfall can cover up the panels reducing their efficiency until cleared off.
To combat these issues:
- Consider installing a tracking system so that your panel follows the sun across the sky throughout the day maximizing its exposure to sunlight.
- Ensure no obstructions like trees or tall buildings are blocking direct sunlight onto your panel
- Regularly clean off any dirt or snow from your panel surface as this will also help improve efficiency.
In conclusion, while not ideal year-round due to seasonal changes affecting daylight hours and weather conditions such as cloud cover and snowfall; with proper installation and maintenance including optimal tilting towards south by 35 degrees along with regular cleaning especially during winter months, solar power generation in Lakewood, Ohio can be a viable option.
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 Lakewood
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 41.4866, Longitude: -81.8037 (Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Lakewood, United States (Lat/Long 41.4866, -81.8037) 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 Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25° 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 Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, United States
Lakewood, United States (41.4866,-81.8037) is located in the state of Ohio, near Lake Erie. The topography of this area is generally flat with some gentle slopes and low hills, characteristic of many areas within the Great Lakes region.
The city itself is highly urbanized with a dense population and infrastructure such as buildings and roads covering most of its area. Therefore, it may not be suitable for large-scale ground-mounted solar PV installations due to lack of open space.
However, there are several potential locations nearby that could be suitable for large scale solar PV:
1. Rural Areas: There are rural areas surrounding Lakewood where land might be available for use as a solar farm. These include more sparsely populated regions to the south and west of Lakewood.
2. Brownfield Sites: In nearby Cleveland or other industrial cities in the region, there may exist brownfield sites - previously developed land that's not currently in use - which could potentially host large-scale solar installations.
3. Rooftops: While not "large-scale" in terms of ground coverage, an aggregate approach can be taken by installing rooftop systems on commercial or residential buildings throughout Lakewood or neighboring cities like Cleveland.
4. Over Water: Another innovative solution could involve floating solar panels on parts of Lake Erie near shorelines though this would require careful environmental assessment and consideration towards local ecosystems.
For any specific site selection for a large scale Solar PV installation factors such as sunlight availability (solar irradiance), proximity to electrical grid connections and environmental impact assessments will need to be considered.
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: Wednesday 15th 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.
