Owensboro, Kentucky in the United States offers a moderate location for solar PV energy generation, with significant seasonal variations in output. Located in the Northern Temperate Zone at latitude 37.7538 and longitude -87.0779, this location experiences notable differences in solar production throughout the year.

Seasonal Solar Production

Solar panels in Owensboro perform best during summer months, generating approximately 6.54kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows as the second most productive season with 5.62kWh/day per kW installed. Production decreases considerably in autumn to 4.05kWh/day, and reaches its lowest point during winter months at just 2.31kWh/day per kW of installed capacity.

The significant drop in winter production (nearly 65% less than summer) indicates that while Owensboro can be suitable for solar energy, system sizing should account for these seasonal fluctuations to ensure adequate year-round energy supply.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Owensboro, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 33 degrees facing South. This angle represents the mathematically optimal position that balances seasonal solar variations throughout the year.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several factors in Owensboro could potentially impact solar production:

• Seasonal snowfall can temporarily reduce output during winter months when production is already at its lowest. Installing panels at the recommended 33-degree tilt helps with natural snow shedding.
• The region experiences moderate tree coverage, which could create shading issues. Careful site assessment and strategic tree trimming may be necessary.
• Owensboro's location in the Ohio River Valley can experience fog and haze, particularly in morning hours. This may slightly reduce overall efficiency.
• The area receives approximately 47 inches of rainfall annually, which generally helps keep panels clean but may temporarily reduce output during storm events.

Preventative Measures

To maximize solar production in Owensboro, consider these preventative measures:

• Install micro-inverters or power optimizers to minimize the impact of partial shading from trees or nearby structures.
• Ensure panels are installed with adequate clearance from the roof to allow airflow, reducing performance losses from high summer temperatures.
• Consider periodic professional cleaning, especially after pollen season in spring when local flora may deposit residue on panels.
• For new installations, evaluate the benefits of single-axis tracking systems, which could increase annual production by following the sun's path throughout the day.

While not an ideal solar location compared to the southwestern United States, Owensboro still offers reasonable solar potential, especially during spring and summer months when production is substantially higher than during fall and winter.

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 Owensboro

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 37.7538, Longitude: -87.0779 (Owensboro, 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 33° South in Owensboro, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Owensboro, United States (Lat/Long 37.7538, -87.0779) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 33° 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 Owensboro, 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 Owensboro, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 33° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
21° South in Summer	42° South in Autumn	53° South in Winter	30° 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 Owensboro, 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 Owensboro, 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 Owensboro, United States

The topography surrounding Owensboro, Kentucky, is characterized by gently rolling terrain typical of the Interior Plains region of the United States. Situated along the southern banks of the Ohio River in the western part of Kentucky, Owensboro sits in what geographers call the Western Coal Field region, a part of the larger Interior Low Plateaus physiographic province. The landscape around Owensboro features modest elevation changes, with the city itself having an average elevation of approximately 400 feet (122 meters) above sea level. The terrain consists primarily of low, undulating hills interspersed with flat river bottomlands and floodplains, particularly along the Ohio River and its tributaries. These bottomlands have historically been valuable agricultural areas due to their fertile soils.

River Influence on Topography

The Ohio River has significantly shaped the local topography. The river valley creates a distinctive boundary to the north of Owensboro, with slightly more pronounced hills and bluffs rising from the river's edge in some sections. South of the river, the landscape transitions to more gradual slopes and broader floodplains before giving way to the rolling uplands that characterize much of the region. Several smaller waterways, including Panther Creek and its tributaries, have carved shallow valleys through the landscape, creating a network of gentle drainage systems that flow northward toward the Ohio River. These creek valleys introduce subtle variations in the otherwise moderately uniform terrain.

Soil Composition

The soils around Owensboro are predominantly silt loams and sandy loams, particularly in the floodplains, with more clay-rich soils in the upland areas. This soil composition reflects the region's geological history, which includes glacial influences from the Pleistocene epoch and alluvial deposits from the Ohio River system.

Solar PV Potential Areas

For large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, several areas around Owensboro offer promising conditions. The most suitable locations would include: The upland areas south and southeast of Owensboro present good opportunities for solar development. These gently rolling hills provide relatively flat parcels that avoid the floodplains while offering good solar exposure. The terrain in these areas is high enough to avoid the morning fog that sometimes forms in the river valleys but not so steep as to create significant shading issues or installation challenges. Former agricultural lands or reclaimed mining sites in Daviess County and neighboring counties like Henderson and Ohio counties also offer potential. These areas typically feature large, open spaces with minimal tree cover and reasonable access to existing electrical infrastructure. The slightly elevated plateaus east of Owensboro, extending toward Philpot and Whitesville, provide favorable topography for solar installations. These areas combine adequate drainage with minimal slope concerns, reducing the costs associated with land preparation.

Topographic Considerations for Solar Development

When evaluating specific sites for solar PV installations around Owensboro, developers should consider that the modest topographic relief generally works in favor of solar development. The gentle slopes minimize the need for extensive grading while still providing adequate natural drainage. The predominantly east-west orientation of many of the ridgelines in the region can be advantageous for solar panel alignment. Areas to potentially avoid include the immediate floodplains of the Ohio River and its tributaries, which face periodic flooding risks, and any steeply sloped areas that would increase installation costs and potentially create shading issues. Additionally, the few areas with significant forest cover would require clearing, adding to development costs and environmental concerns. The general absence of dramatic topographic features like mountains or deep valleys means that most of the region receives consistent solar exposure throughout the day, without the early morning or late afternoon shading that more rugged terrains might experience. This characteristic makes much of the land surrounding Owensboro potentially suitable for solar PV development, with specific site selection ultimately depending on factors such as land availability, proximity to transmission infrastructure, and local zoning regulations.

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.