Solar PV Analysis of Lewistown, United States
Lewistown, Montana, in the United States is a fairly good place for generating solar energy year-round, but it does have its ups and downs.
Let's start with the positives. During Summer and Spring, you can expect to generate lots of electricity from your solar panels - about 6.90 kilowatt-hours per day in Summer and 5.19 kilowatt-hours per day in Spring for each kilowatt of installed solar power.
However, during Autumn and Winter, things get a bit tougher because those seasons don't get as much sunlight. You'll only be able to generate around 3.31 kilowatt-hours per day in Autumn and just 1.90 kilowatt-hours per day in Winter for each installed kilowatt.
So if you're planning on using solar energy at this location, it would be ideal to use more during the sunnier months (Spring and Summer) when production is high.
Now let's talk about how you should install your panels here: To make sure they capture as much sunlight as possible throughout the entire year; tilt them at an angle of 40 degrees facing South.
As far as environmental or weather factors that might interfere with your solar production go; Lewistown has a semi-arid climate which means there could be periods of drought followed by intense rainstorms that may cause dust build-up or water spots on your panels reducing their efficiency over time. The area also experiences snowfall which could cover up your panels completely during winter months impeding any sort of generation whatsoever.
To counter these issues:
1) Regular cleaning maintenance will help deal with dust buildup or water spots.
2) Installation design considerations like having a steeper tilt angle can help ensure snow slides off more easily.
3) If budget allows consider automated solutions like panel cleaning systems or even heated panels to melt off snow quicker.
4) Finally keep an eye out on local weather forecasts to plan for periods of low production and potential cleaning needs.
In summary, while not perfect, Lewistown, Montana is a decent location for solar energy generation with its greatest output in the Spring and Summer months. With proper installation and maintenance you can make sure you're getting the most out of your solar panels year-round.
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 Lewistown
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 47.0545, Longitude: -109.4223 (Lewistown, 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 Lewistown, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Lewistown, United States (Lat/Long 47.0545, -109.4223) 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 Lewistown, 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 Lewistown, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30° South in Summer | 51° South in Autumn | 61° South in Winter | 39° 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 Lewistown, 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 Lewistown, 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 Lewistown, United States
Lewistown, located in Central Montana, United States, is surrounded by a variety of topographical features. The city itself sits in a valley with rolling hills and plains surrounding it. To the north and east are expansive grasslands that gradually rise into low-lying foothills. Further away to the west and south are more rugged terrains including several mountain ranges such as the Big Snowy Mountains.
Given this topography, large-scale solar PV installations would likely be most suitable on the open plains to the north and east of Lewistown where there's ample sunlight exposure and less geographical hindrance for installation. These areas tend to have fewer trees or tall structures that could potentially block sunlight.
However, it's important to note that while physical geography is an important consideration for solar power generation, other factors such as local climate conditions (e.g., average sunshine hours), land use regulations, proximity to transmission lines or grids also play crucial roles in determining suitability for large-scale solar PV projects. Detailed feasibility studies would need to be conducted before any decisions can be made.
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 19th of March 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
Tell Us About Your Work
We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.
Feeling generous?
Share this with your friends!
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.
