Solar PV Analysis of Ridgewood, United States
Ridgewood, New Jersey, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a moderately favorable environment for solar energy generation throughout the year. The location's solar potential varies significantly across seasons, with peak production occurring during the summer months.
Seasonal Solar Production
Summer stands out as the most productive season, with an average daily output of 6.05 kWh per kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely behind, generating 5.47 kWh/day. Autumn sees a noticeable decrease in production, averaging 3.54 kWh/day, while winter experiences the lowest output at 2.18 kWh/day.
The substantial difference between summer and winter production highlights the impact of seasonal variations on solar energy generation in Ridgewood. This pattern is typical for locations in the Northern Temperate Zone, where daylight hours and sun angle change significantly throughout the year.
Optimal Panel Installation
To maximize year-round solar energy production in Ridgewood, fixed solar panels should be installed at a tilt angle of 36 degrees facing south. This angle optimizes the panels' exposure to sunlight throughout the year, balancing the varying sun positions across seasons.
Environmental and Weather Factors
While Ridgewood's location is generally suitable for solar energy production, there are some environmental and weather factors that could impact efficiency:
- Snow accumulation in winter can temporarily reduce panel output
- Tree cover and building shadows may limit solar exposure in some areas
To mitigate these factors, consider installing panels at a steeper angle to encourage snow sliding off, and conduct a thorough site assessment to minimize shading issues. Regular panel cleaning and maintenance can also help ensure optimal performance year-round.
Despite these challenges, Ridgewood's solar potential remains promising, particularly from late spring through early fall. With proper installation and maintenance, solar PV systems can provide a significant portion of a household's energy needs, contributing to both environmental sustainability and long-term energy cost savings.
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 Ridgewood
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 40.9864, Longitude: -74.1112 (Ridgewood, 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 Ridgewood, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Ridgewood, United States (Lat/Long 40.9864, -74.1112) 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 Ridgewood, 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 Ridgewood, 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 | 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 Ridgewood, 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 Ridgewood, 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 Ridgewood, United States
The area around Ridgewood, New Jersey, is characterized by a mix of gently rolling hills and relatively flat terrain. This region is part of the Piedmont physiographic province, which lies between the coastal plain to the east and the more mountainous Appalachian region to the west. The landscape is generally suburban, with a combination of residential areas, parks, and small pockets of woodland.
Ridgewood itself sits at an elevation of about 85 meters (280 feet) above sea level. The terrain gradually rises as you move west towards the Ramapo Mountains, which are part of the larger Appalachian mountain range. To the east, the land slopes gently downward towards the Hackensack River and eventually to the coastal areas near New York City.
The topography in this area is largely the result of glacial activity during the last ice age, which shaped the landscape and deposited various sediments. This has created a mix of well-drained soils on higher ground and some poorly drained areas in low-lying spots.
When considering areas nearby that would be most suited to large-scale solar PV (photovoltaic) installations, it's important to look for relatively flat, open spaces with good sun exposure. While the immediate vicinity of Ridgewood is quite developed, there are potential areas within a 30-50 kilometer radius that might be suitable:
- The more rural areas to the northwest, in Orange County, New York, have larger open spaces that could potentially accommodate solar farms.
- Parts of central and western New Jersey, particularly in Hunterdon and Warren counties, have agricultural lands that might be suitable for solar installations.
- Some areas in eastern Pennsylvania, where the terrain becomes flatter, could also be considered for large-scale solar projects.
It's worth noting that while these areas may have suitable topography, other factors such as local zoning laws, grid connectivity, and environmental considerations would also need to be taken into account when planning large-scale solar PV installations. Additionally, the heavily forested nature of much of the surrounding region may limit the availability of large, contiguous open spaces needed for utility-scale solar farms.
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: Wednesday 7th of August 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.
