Solar PV Analysis of Middleburg, United States
Middleburg, Florida is a pretty good location to generate energy via solar panels throughout the year. This is because it's located in the Northern Sub Tropics, which means it gets a good amount of sunlight all year round.
If you look at how much electricity can be produced per kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power, it varies from season to season. During summer and spring, when there are more daylight hours and the sun is usually shining stronger, you can expect higher output. Specifically, in summer you'll get around 5.82 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kW of installed solar power and even more in spring with about 6.43 kWh/day per kW.
In autumn and winter when there are fewer daylight hours and less intense sunshine, production drops somewhat but still remains decently high - around 4.71 kWh/day per kW in autumn and 3.49 kWh/day per kW during winter.
To maximize your total yearly production from these solar panels at this location, they should ideally be tilted at an angle of 27 degrees facing South.
As for potential challenges that could impact your solar production here: weather conditions like heavy rainfall or hurricanes could temporarily decrease your output as they block out sunlight or potentially damage your installation if severe enough - Florida does experience such weather events occasionally due to its tropical climate.
To mitigate these risks while installing your solar system: make sure to use durable materials that can withstand harsh weather conditions; consider getting insurance coverage for potential damages; ensure proper installation so that panels are secure against strong winds; regular maintenance will also help detect any issues early on ensuring optimal performance over time.
So overall: Middleburg offers a favorable environment for generating energy via Solar PV throughout most parts of the year with some precautions needed due to local weather patterns.
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 Middleburg
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 30.0843, Longitude: -81.8629 (Middleburg, 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 27° South in Middleburg, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Middleburg, United States (Lat/Long 30.0843, -81.8629) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 27° 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 Middleburg, 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 Middleburg, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 27° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14° South in Summer | 35° South in Autumn | 45° South in Winter | 23° 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 Middleburg, 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 Middleburg, 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 Middleburg, United States
Middleburg, located in Clay County, Florida, is characterized by a relatively flat topography as it is part of the coastal plain region. The area consists of low-lying plains with some gentle hills and wetlands. It has an average elevation of about 26 feet above sea level.
For large-scale solar PV projects, areas that are most suitable are those with flat or gently sloping terrain and high levels of sunlight exposure throughout the year. In this respect, many parts in and around Middleburg could be well-suited for such installations given their flat terrain.
However, other factors also need to be considered when deciding on locations for large-scale solar PV projects. These include proximity to power transmission lines (to feed the generated electricity into the grid), local land use regulations (which may restrict certain types of development), environmental considerations (such as avoiding wetlands or protected habitats), and economic considerations (such as land acquisition costs).
In terms of specific areas near Middleburg that might be suitable for large scale solar PV installations based purely on topographical considerations - open spaces without dense tree cover or buildings would be ideal. Areas towards Green Cove Springs or further south where agricultural lands dominate might be potential sites worth investigating due to their openness and minimal shading.
Remember though that a detailed feasibility study would still have to be conducted before any definitive conclusions can be made regarding site suitability for solar PV 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!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Wednesday 27th 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.
