Solar PV Analysis of Prairie View, United States
Prairie View, Texas, United States, located in the Northern Sub Tropics, is a pretty good location for generating energy through solar photovoltaic (PV) panels year-round. This means that you can use solar panels to turn sunlight into electricity all year long.
However, some seasons are better than others for generating solar power at this location. The summer season produces the most energy with 6.57 kilowatt-hours per day (kWh/day) for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Spring and autumn also generate decent amounts of energy with 5.22 kWh/day and 4.93 kWh/day respectively per kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Winter is the least productive season with only 3.14 kWh/day per kilowatt.
If you're planning to install fixed panel solar PV at this location, it's best to tilt your panels at an angle of 27 degrees facing South to get the most out of your system throughout the year.
In terms of local factors that could affect your solar production in Prairie View, Texas, there could be a few things to consider such as weather patterns and topography or physical features of the land itself which can create shadows or block sunlight from reaching your panels.
The area does experience frequent thunderstorms especially during spring and summer months which might temporarily reduce sunlight and hence affect power generation during those times but these are usually short-lived events so shouldn't significantly impact overall yearly production.
Also be aware that trees or buildings around your property might cast shadows on your panels reducing their efficiency so when installing them make sure they're positioned in a spot where they'll receive unobstructed sunlight throughout most part of the day all year round.
Lastly remember regular cleaning and maintenance will ensure optimal performance from your system as dirt or debris accumulation on panel surface can also reduce their efficiency over time.
Note: The Northern Sub Tropics extend from 23.5° latitude North up to 35° 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 Prairie View
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 30.0821, Longitude: -95.9841 (Prairie View, 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 27° South in Prairie View, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Prairie View, United States (Lat/Long 30.0821, -95.9841) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 27° 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 Prairie View, 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 Prairie View, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 27° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14° South in Summer | 35° South in Autumn | 46° South in Winter | 23° 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 Prairie View, 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 Prairie View, 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 Prairie View, United States
Prairie View, United States is located in Texas. The topography of this region is characterized by flat to gently rolling terrain with scattered areas of woods and open fields. The area is part of the coastal plains, which means it has relatively low relief and elevation.
As for large-scale solar PV installations, they require areas with high levels of solar irradiance and large tracts of relatively flat land. Considering these factors, the following nearby areas could be suitable:
1. Open Fields: There are many open fields around Prairie View that could potentially be used for large-scale solar PV installations.
2. Unused Agricultural Land: If there are any unused or less productive agricultural lands in the vicinity, they could also be converted into solar farms.
3. Industrial Zones: If there are any industrial zones or brownfield sites nearby that aren't being fully utilized, these could also be suitable locations for installing solar panels.
4. Rooftops in Urban Areas: In nearby urbanized areas or towns like Waller or Hempstead, rooftops on commercial buildings can also serve as potential sites for smaller scale photovoltaic systems.
The exact suitability would depend on a more detailed site assessment considering factors such as local planning regulations, connection to the grid infrastructure and potential environmental impacts among others.
It's worth noting that Texas has one of the highest potentials for solar power generation in the U.S., due to its size and abundant sunshine throughout most parts of the year.
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: Thursday 18th of January 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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.
