Providence, Utah, located in the Northern Temperate Zone at coordinates 41.7016, -111.8099, presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations that potential solar installers should carefully consider.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows dramatic seasonal swings. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 7.90 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it an excellent time for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 6.56 kWh per day per kW, providing strong solar production as daylight hours increase and weather improves. Autumn sees a notable decline to 4.02 kWh per day per kW as the region transitions toward winter conditions. Winter presents the most challenging period for solar generation, dropping significantly to just 2.44 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. For optimal year-round energy production from a fixed-panel installation at this Providence, Utah location, solar panels should be tilted at 35 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual solar output by accounting for the sun's varying elevation throughout the year and weighting the optimal angles by the actual solar potential at this specific latitude.

Local Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several significant environmental and weather factors in Providence, Utah can impede solar energy production:

• Heavy winter snowfall: Northern Utah experiences substantial snow accumulation that can completely cover solar panels for extended periods
• Temperature inversions: The Cache Valley location traps cold air and pollutants, creating persistent fog and smog that reduces solar irradiance
• Frequent winter cloud cover: Extended periods of overcast skies during winter months significantly reduce solar generation
• Dust and agricultural particles: The agricultural region generates airborne particles that accumulate on panel surfaces

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective. Installing panels at the recommended 35-degree tilt angle not only optimizes sun exposure but also helps snow slide off more easily, reducing accumulation time. Choosing panels with anti-reflective coatings and smooth surfaces minimizes dust adhesion and makes cleaning more effective. Installing a monitoring system allows homeowners to identify when panels need cleaning or snow removal. Regular maintenance becomes crucial in this environment. Scheduling professional cleaning at least twice yearly, particularly before peak production seasons, helps maintain optimal performance. During heavy snow periods, safely removing snow accumulation can restore energy generation much sooner than waiting for natural melting. Proper spacing between panel rows prevents snow from one panel casting shadows on lower panels, and ensuring adequate ventilation helps panels operate more efficiently during the hot summer months when production peaks.

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 Providence, Utah

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 41.7016, Longitude: -111.8099 (Providence, Utah, 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 35° South in Providence, Utah, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Providence, Utah, United States (Lat/Long 41.7016, -111.8099) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 35° 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 Providence, Utah, 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 Providence, Utah, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 35° 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	45° 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 Providence, Utah, 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 Providence, Utah, 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 Providence, Utah, United States

Topography Around Providence, Utah

Providence sits in the Cache Valley of northern Utah, nestled within the broader Great Basin region. The town is positioned at an elevation of approximately 4,500 feet above sea level, surrounded by dramatic mountain ranges that define the valley's boundaries. To the east, the Bear River Mountains rise steeply, forming part of the Wasatch Range, while the Wellsville Mountains create a western wall for the valley. These mountain ranges reach elevations exceeding 9,000 feet, creating a distinctive bowl-shaped valley floor where Providence and neighboring communities are located.

The immediate terrain around Providence consists of gently rolling hills and relatively flat agricultural land that slopes gradually toward the Bear River, which meanders through the northern portion of the valley. The landscape transitions from the developed areas near Providence to expansive farmland and pastures that extend across much of the valley floor. The topography becomes more varied as it approaches the mountain foothills, with increasing slopes and more complex terrain patterns.

The valley floor itself is characterized by rich alluvial soils deposited over thousands of years, creating the flat to gently undulating terrain that has made the area ideal for agriculture. Small creeks and irrigation channels crisscross the landscape, though these generally follow subtle natural drainage patterns rather than creating significant topographical obstacles.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The Cache Valley floor presents excellent opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations due to its predominantly flat terrain and minimal shading from surrounding features. The most suitable areas lie in the central and southern portions of the valley, where extensive agricultural lands provide large, unobstructed parcels with gentle slopes that are ideal for solar array installation.

Areas south and southwest of Providence toward Millville and Logan offer particularly favorable conditions. These locations benefit from the valley's natural bowl shape, which provides protection from harsh winds while maintaining excellent solar exposure throughout the day. The relatively uniform elevation across these areas eliminates concerns about significant shading between solar panel rows and allows for efficient installation of tracking systems if desired.

The eastern bench areas, where the valley floor begins to rise toward the Bear River Mountains, also present good opportunities for solar development. These slightly elevated positions can offer advantages in terms of air drainage and reduced fog formation during certain weather conditions, while still maintaining manageable slopes for construction and maintenance activities.

Agricultural areas currently used for dryland farming or pasture would be particularly well-suited for solar development, as these lands typically have fewer infrastructure complications such as irrigation systems or permanent structures. The existing road network throughout the valley provides good access for construction and ongoing maintenance operations, while proximity to electrical transmission infrastructure near Logan and other developed areas facilitates grid connection.

Areas to avoid for large-scale solar installations include the immediate foothills of both mountain ranges, where steeper slopes, rocky terrain, and potential shading from ridgelines would create challenges. Similarly, locations too close to the Bear River and its tributaries may face seasonal flooding concerns or wetland restrictions that could complicate development.

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.