Solar PV Analysis of Laredo, United States
Laredo, Texas is a pretty good place for solar power generation all year round. This is because it gets a decent amount of sunlight in each season. In simple terms, the amount of electricity you can generate from solar panels depends on how much sun they get. The more sunlight, the more electricity.
In Laredo, during summer you can expect to generate about 7.27 units of electricity per day for each unit (kW) of solar panel installed. In autumn this drops slightly to about 5.44 units per day and in winter it's around 4.04 units per day due to shorter days and less intense sunlight. But things pick up again in spring with an average production of about 6.10 units per day.
The best time for generating solar energy in Laredo would be during the summer when there are longer daylight hours and more intense sunlight but spring also offers substantial output.
To get the most out of your solar panels throughout the year, they should be tilted at an angle facing south by 25 degrees which will allow them to catch as much sun as possible.
As far as local factors that might affect solar production go, Laredo doesn't have many significant issues but like any location there could be occasional problems such as dust or debris covering the panels which reduces their efficiency or shade from nearby buildings or trees blocking sunlight especially during mornings or evenings when sun is low on horizon.
To help ensure greater energy production, regular cleaning and maintenance should be done to keep panels free from dust and debris while properly planning installation site so that there are minimal obstructions blocking direct sunlight onto panels would also help significantly.
Note: The Northern Sub Tropics extend from 23.5° latitude North up to 35° 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 Laredo
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 27.6355, Longitude: -99.5927 (Laredo, 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 25° South in Laredo, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Laredo, United States (Lat/Long 27.6355, -99.5927) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 25° 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 Laredo, 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 Laredo, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 25° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12° South in Summer | 32° South in Autumn | 43° South in Winter | 21° 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 Laredo, 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 Laredo, 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 Laredo, United States
Laredo, Texas is located in the southern part of the state and is characterized by a semi-arid climate. The topography around Laredo is relatively flat with some rolling hills. It's part of the South Texas Plains region, which includes brushland and grassland habitats.
The area receives an average of 223 sunny days per year, making it well-suited for solar PV installations. The most suitable places for large-scale solar PV installations would be the expansive, flat areas outside of urban development where there are fewer obstructions to sunlight. Large tracts of unused or underused land in Webb County could potentially be converted into solar farms.
However, final site selection would require careful consideration of factors such as land use regulations, proximity to transmission lines and substations (for grid-connected systems), soil stability (for ground-mounted panels), local wildlife and plant species (to minimize ecological impact), among others.
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: Tuesday 21st 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.
