Manteo, North Carolina, situated at 35.9055° N, -75.6616° W in the Northern Temperate Zone, presents a moderately favorable location for solar PV energy generation throughout the year, with significant seasonal variations in output.

Seasonal Solar Production

Solar panels in Manteo produce varying amounts of electricity depending on the season. Summer is the most productive period, generating approximately 6.48 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows closely behind with 6.05 kWh/day. Production decreases substantially in autumn to 4.23 kWh/day, while winter sees the lowest output at only 2.64 kWh/day per kilowatt installed.

The combined spring and summer months (roughly April through September) represent the prime solar generation period in Manteo, accounting for significantly more energy production than the autumn and winter months. This seasonal pattern makes Manteo a location where solar installations can provide substantial energy during approximately half the year, with reduced but still meaningful production during the remainder.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Manteo, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round production is 31 degrees facing South. This angle has been calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation patterns at this specific latitude, weighted by the daily photovoltaic potential based on NASA's solar irradiance data, while accounting for Earth's elliptical orbit.

Environmental Considerations

Several environmental factors could impact solar production in Manteo:

• Hurricane exposure: Manteo's Outer Banks location makes it vulnerable to Atlantic hurricanes, which can damage solar installations and reduce production during storm seasons (primarily June through November).
• Salt air corrosion: Proximity to the ocean means salt spray can accelerate degradation of solar equipment.
• Coastal fog and humidity: Morning fog can reduce early day production, particularly in spring and summer months.
• Sand and dust: Coastal environments can lead to particulate buildup on panels.

Preventative Measures

To maximize solar production in Manteo despite these challenges, several precautions are recommended. Hurricane-rated mounting systems with reinforced anchoring should be used, along with marine-grade components and protective coatings to resist salt corrosion. Regular cleaning schedules help mitigate sand and salt accumulation, while microinverters or power optimizers can reduce production losses from partial shading or panel-level issues.

Additionally, slightly increasing the tilt angle beyond the optimal 31 degrees can promote natural cleaning from rainfall, though this comes with a minor reduction in overall production efficiency. Incorporating these preventative measures can significantly extend system lifespan and maintain higher production levels in this coastal environment.

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 Manteo

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 35.9055, Longitude: -75.6616 (Manteo, 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 31° South in Manteo, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Manteo, United States (Lat/Long 35.9055, -75.6616) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 31° 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 Manteo, 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 Manteo, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 31° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
20° South in Summer	40° South in Autumn	51° South in Winter	28° 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 Manteo, 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 Manteo, 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 Manteo, United States

Manteo is situated on Roanoke Island in Dare County, North Carolina, nestled between the Outer Banks barrier islands and the mainland. The topography of this area is characterized by low-lying coastal plains with very minimal elevation changes. Roanoke Island itself has an average elevation of only about 4 feet (1.2 meters) above sea level, with the highest points rarely exceeding 15 feet (4.6 meters). The island is surrounded by the Croatan Sound to the west and the Roanoke Sound to the east, creating a distinct maritime environment. The surrounding landscape consists primarily of coastal wetlands, maritime forests, and sandy shores. The eastern portion of Dare County includes the famous Outer Banks barrier islands with their distinctive dune systems and beaches facing the Atlantic Ocean. To the west of Manteo, the mainland portion of Dare County transitions into the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, characterized by pocosin wetlands, swamp forests, and peatlands.

Solar PV Potential Areas

For large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations near Manteo, several factors must be considered including land availability, flood risk, and environmental sensitivity. The mainland areas west of Manteo offer more promising locations for solar development compared to the barrier islands or Roanoke Island itself. The mainland portions of Dare County and neighboring Tyrrell County contain agricultural lands and managed forest areas that could potentially accommodate solar installations. These areas have relatively flat terrain that would require minimal grading, an important factor for cost-effective solar farm development. Specifically, the areas along Highway 64 west of Manteo, approaching Columbia, feature cleared agricultural land that would be suitable for solar arrays. However, the entire region faces challenges related to its low elevation and vulnerability to flooding, particularly during hurricane events. The optimal solar sites would be those slightly elevated areas on the mainland that have already been cleared for agriculture or other purposes, thus minimizing both flood risk and environmental impact. The Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and other protected wetlands would not be appropriate for solar development due to their ecological significance and protected status. Similarly, the tourist-focused Outer Banks areas east of Manteo would be impractical due to high land costs, hurricane vulnerability, and incompatibility with the tourism economy. In terms of existing infrastructure, areas near major roadways like Highway 64 or 264 would offer advantages for construction access and grid connection, making them more economically viable for large-scale solar development. Any solar installation in this region would need to be engineered with flood resilience in mind, potentially utilizing elevated mounting systems designed to withstand occasional inundation and high winds characteristic of this coastal environment.

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.