Mountlake Terrace, Washington, in the United States, presents a mixed scenario for solar energy production throughout the year. Located in the Northern Temperate Zone, this location experiences significant seasonal variations in solar energy potential.

The solar production at this location shows a dramatic seasonal pattern. Summer stands out as the most productive season, generating an impressive 6.87kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Spring follows as the second most productive season with 5.15kWh/day per kW installed. However, production drops substantially during autumn to 2.47kWh/day and reaches its lowest point in winter with only 1.27kWh/day per kW installed.

Seasonal Production Analysis

The substantial difference between summer and winter production (more than five times greater in summer) indicates that this location is far from ideal for consistent year-round solar generation. The most favorable months for solar production will be from late spring through early fall (approximately May through September), when longer days and typically clearer weather conditions maximize solar exposure.

For fixed panel installations at this Mountlake Terrace location, the ideal tilt angle to maximize total year-round production is 39 degrees facing South. This angle has been calculated to optimize annual energy harvest considering the location's specific seasonal variations.

Environmental Factors Affecting Production

Several significant environmental factors may impede solar production at this location. The Pacific Northwest, including Mountlake Terrace, is known for its cloudy and rainy conditions, particularly during fall and winter months. The region's reputation for overcast skies directly contributes to the low winter and autumn production figures.

Additionally, the area may experience occasional fog, especially in morning hours, which can delay daily solar production startup. During winter months, there may also be snow accumulation that can temporarily cover panels and halt production until melted or cleared.

Preventative Measures

• Install panels with higher efficiency ratings that perform better in diffuse light conditions common during cloudy days
• Consider micro-inverters or power optimizers to minimize the impact of partial shading from trees or nearby structures
• Implement automated snow removal systems or ensure panels are accessible for manual clearing during winter months
• Regular cleaning maintenance to remove pine needles, leaves, and moss that are common in this forested region
• Consider a slight adjustment from the mathematically optimal tilt to facilitate natural cleaning from rainfall and snow sliding

While not ideal for year-round consistent production, a properly designed solar system in Mountlake Terrace can still provide significant energy, particularly if sized to take advantage of the highly productive summer months while accounting for the substantial winter production deficit.

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 Mountlake Terrace

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 47.7941, Longitude: -122.3066 (Mountlake Terrace, 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 39° South in Mountlake Terrace, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Mountlake Terrace, United States (Lat/Long 47.7941, -122.3066) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 39° 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 Mountlake Terrace, 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 Mountlake Terrace, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 39° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
31° South in Summer	50° South in Autumn	62° South in Winter	40° 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 Mountlake Terrace, 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 Mountlake Terrace, 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 Mountlake Terrace, United States

Mountlake Terrace is situated in Snohomish County, Washington, nestled in the greater Seattle metropolitan area. The topography of this region presents a varied landscape characterized by gentle hills, shallow valleys, and moderate elevation changes typical of the Puget Sound lowlands.

Terrain Features

The terrain around Mountlake Terrace generally slopes westward toward Puget Sound. The city sits at an average elevation of approximately 440 feet (134 meters) above sea level. The landscape exhibits the classic features of glacial sculpting from the Pleistocene epoch, with drumlins, kettle depressions, and glacial till deposits creating a rolling topography. To the east of Mountlake Terrace, the land gradually rises toward the Cascade foothills, while to the west, it descends toward the shoreline of Puget Sound. Several small lakes dot the landscape, including Lake Ballinger on the western edge of the city. These water bodies occupy depressions left by retreating glaciers thousands of years ago. The area also features numerous small streams and drainage channels that have carved shallow valleys through the glacial deposits. Hall Creek and Lyon Creek are among the waterways that flow through the region, eventually draining into Lake Washington or Puget Sound.

Vegetation and Land Cover

The native vegetation consists primarily of coniferous forest dominated by Douglas fir, western hemlock, and western red cedar, though much of the original forest cover has been cleared for development. The remaining forested areas are concentrated in parks, ravines, and undeveloped parcels. Urban development has significantly altered the natural landscape, with residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, and transportation infrastructure covering much of the area. However, the city has preserved some green spaces, including the 53-acre Mountlake Terrace Recreation Pavilion and Ballinger Park.

Solar PV Potential Areas

For large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, several areas near Mountlake Terrace offer more favorable conditions than others: The relatively flat, open lands to the north and northeast in Snohomish County present opportunities for solar development. These areas have fewer tall trees and buildings that might cast shadows on solar arrays. Former agricultural lands or industrial sites in this direction could be repurposed for solar energy production. Areas to the east, as the terrain begins to rise toward the Cascades, might offer south-facing slopes that would receive more direct sunlight throughout the day. These gentle inclines can optimize solar panel orientation without requiring extensive grading or site preparation. The commercial and industrial zones along Interstate 5 and Highway 99 corridors contain large rooftops and parking areas that could support significant solar installations without consuming undeveloped land. These areas already have electrical infrastructure nearby, potentially reducing interconnection costs. However, several factors limit the region's suitability for truly large-scale solar farms. The prevalence of forested areas creates shading challenges. The high land values associated with the Seattle metropolitan area make dedicating large tracts solely to solar generation economically challenging. Additionally, the region's cloudy climate, particularly during winter months, reduces overall solar potential compared to more arid regions of Washington state like the Columbia Basin. For utility-scale solar development, the areas east of the Cascades in central and eastern Washington offer significantly better conditions, with more consistent sunshine, lower precipitation, and more affordable land prices. These regions, particularly in Grant, Adams, and Franklin counties, would be substantially more productive for large solar arrays than the immediate vicinity of Mountlake Terrace.

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

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.