New London, Connecticut, located in the Northern Temperate Zone at coordinates 41.3495, -72.103, presents a moderately favorable location for solar energy generation with distinct seasonal variations in production capacity.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows significant seasonal fluctuation. Summer delivers the highest production at 5.81 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the peak generation period. Spring follows closely with 5.57 kWh per day per kW, providing nearly equivalent output to summer months. Autumn sees a notable decline to 3.45 kWh per day per kW, while winter represents the challenging period with only 2.02 kWh per day per kW. This winter reduction to roughly one-third of summer output is typical for northern temperate locations but requires careful consideration for year-round energy planning. For optimal year-round performance, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 36 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual production by accounting for the sun's varying position throughout the year and the location's specific latitude.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in New London can significantly impact solar energy generation:

• Snow accumulation during winter months can block panels and reduce output
• Coastal weather patterns bringing frequent cloud cover and storms
• High humidity levels that can create haze and reduce solar irradiance
• Salt air corrosion from the nearby Atlantic Ocean
• Ice formation during winter freeze-thaw cycles

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

To maximize solar production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective:

• Install panels with adequate tilt (the recommended 36 degrees helps with snow shedding)
• Use marine-grade mounting hardware and corrosion-resistant materials
• Ensure proper spacing between panels for airflow and maintenance access
• Install monitoring systems to detect performance issues quickly
• Plan for regular cleaning and maintenance, especially after storms
• Consider micro-inverters or power optimizers to minimize impact of partial shading

The location offers reasonable solar potential, particularly during spring and summer months, but requires thoughtful installation practices to address coastal environmental challenges effectively.

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 New London

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 41.3495, Longitude: -72.103 (New London, 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 36° South in New London, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in New London, United States (Lat/Long 41.3495, -72.103) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 36° 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 New London, 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 New London, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 36° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
25° South in Summer	46° South in Autumn	56° South in Winter	34° 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 New London, 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 New London, 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 New London, United States

Topographical Features Around New London

New London sits along the Connecticut coastline where the Thames River meets Long Island Sound, creating a landscape characterized by gentle rolling hills, coastal plains, and numerous waterways. The terrain in this southeastern Connecticut region is relatively modest in elevation, with the highest points rarely exceeding 300 feet above sea level. The topography was largely shaped by glacial activity during the last ice age, resulting in a mix of rocky outcrops, sandy soils, and fertile valleys.

The immediate area around New London features a combination of coastal lowlands and inland hills that gradually rise as one moves away from the shoreline. The Thames River valley cuts through the landscape from north to south, creating natural corridors of flatter terrain on either side of the waterway. To the east and west of the river, the land rises into modest hills covered with a mix of deciduous and coniferous forests, interspersed with agricultural fields and residential developments.

The coastal influence creates a relatively temperate microclimate, with the moderating effects of Long Island Sound helping to reduce temperature extremes throughout the year. The terrain includes numerous small streams, ponds, and wetland areas that drain toward either the Thames River or directly into the Sound, creating a network of water features that influence local land use patterns.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most promising locations for substantial solar installations lie in the gently rolling hills and plateau areas located 5 to 15 miles inland from the immediate coastline. These areas offer several advantages including relatively flat to moderately sloped terrain that can accommodate large arrays without excessive grading costs. The slightly elevated positions also provide good drainage and reduce concerns about flooding that might affect lower-lying coastal areas.

Agricultural areas in the towns of Montville, Salem, and East Lyme present particularly attractive opportunities for solar development. These locations feature open fields with minimal tree coverage, existing road access for construction and maintenance, and terrain that slopes gently toward the south or southwest - ideal orientations for maximizing solar collection throughout the day. The agricultural soils in these areas are typically well-drained, reducing foundation challenges for mounting systems.

Former industrial sites and brownfields in the greater New London area also represent excellent candidates for solar development. These locations often have existing electrical infrastructure nearby, cleared land that requires minimal additional preparation, and may qualify for various redevelopment incentives. The relatively flat nature of many former industrial properties makes them particularly cost-effective for large-scale installations.

Areas along the Interstate 95 and Route 32 corridors offer additional advantages due to their accessibility and often cleared right-of-way zones that could potentially accommodate solar installations. The higher elevation areas in the towns of Ledyard and Groton, while still modest in absolute terms, provide good exposure and are often characterized by open meadows and former agricultural lands that would require minimal site preparation.

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.