Solar PV Analysis of Owings Mills, United States
The location at Owings Mills, Maryland, in the United States is fairly suitable for generating energy through solar panels throughout the year. However, it's not perfect and there are better times than others to gather solar power.
In simple terms, a solar panel can generate more electricity when there is more sunlight. During summer and spring, you can expect your panels to produce quite a bit of energy (6.43 kilowatt-hours per day in summer and 5.64 kilowatt-hours per day in spring). This is because these seasons generally have longer daylight hours and stronger sun intensity.
On the other hand, during autumn and winter when days are shorter with less intense sun rays hitting your panels due to cloud cover or lower angle of the sun, they'll produce less energy (3.77 kilowatt-hours per day in autumn and just 2.26 kilowatt-hours per day in winter).
To get the most out of your solar panels all year round at this location, they should be installed at an angle facing South by 34 degrees from horizontal level; this will allow them to catch as much sunlight as possible over different seasons.
However, some local factors could affect how well your solar panels work here - like weather conditions or environmental issues that block sunlight (like tall buildings or trees). For instance:
- Frequent snowfall during winter could cover up your panels which would reduce their efficiency significantly.
- Heavy rainfall could also lead to accumulation of dirt on the surface of the panel thereby reducing its efficiency.
Preventative measures can be taken though:
- You might want to install a system that allows you to adjust panel angles depending on season for maximum exposure.
- Regular cleaning can help keep dirt off so they're always working as efficiently as possible.
So overall while Owings Mills isn't an ideal place for generating solar power all year round due mainly due to seasonal changes affecting light intensity, it's still a pretty good spot and there are ways to maximize your energy output.
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 Owings Mills
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.4234, Longitude: -76.7762 (Owings Mills, 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 34° South in Owings Mills, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Owings Mills, United States (Lat/Long 39.4234, -76.7762) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 34° 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 Owings Mills, 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 Owings Mills, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 34° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23° South in Summer | 44° South in Autumn | 55° South in Winter | 32° 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 Owings Mills, 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 Owings Mills, 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 Owings Mills, United States
Owings Mills is a suburb of Baltimore, located in the northern part of Baltimore County, Maryland. The topography around Owings Mills is characterized by rolling hills and valleys with an abundance of deciduous forest cover. It's not particularly mountainous but does have some gentle slopes.
The region experiences a humid subtropical climate which means it receives ample sunlight throughout the year making it suitable for solar PV installations.
For large-scale solar PV installations, open and flat areas are generally most suited. In the case of Owings Mills, these could be:
1. Unused or abandoned industrial lands: These often provide large open spaces that can accommodate extensive solar panel arrays.
2. Farmlands: If they are not being used intensively for agriculture or if farmers wish to diversify their income sources.
3. Rooftops: Large commercial buildings or warehouses in the area may offer substantial rooftop space for installing solar panels.
4. Brownfields or landfills: They can also be repurposed into renewable energy sites given proper safety measures and precautions.
Before proceeding with any installation though, detailed site surveys should be conducted to ensure suitability considering factors like sun exposure (solar irradiance), ground stability, proximity to power grids and environmental impact assessments etc.
Remember that while this region gets plenty of sunshine on average, local weather patterns including cloud cover as well as seasonal variations will affect the efficiency of solar energy production at specific locations within this area.
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: Monday 8th of July 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.
