Salina, Kansas, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, 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 varies dramatically throughout the year. Summer provides the peak performance period, generating 7.17 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity. This represents excellent solar conditions when energy demand for air conditioning is typically highest. Spring offers the second-best solar generation period at 5.47 kWh per day per kW, making it another strong season for solar energy production. Autumn sees a notable decline to 4.26 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.82 kWh per day per kW of production. For fixed panel installations at this location, the optimal tilt angle is 34 degrees facing south to maximize total year-round solar energy production.

Local Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several significant environmental and weather factors in the Salina, Kansas area can impact solar energy production:

• Severe thunderstorms and hail: Kansas experiences frequent severe weather during spring and summer, with large hail that can damage solar panels
• High winds and tornadoes: The region sits in Tornado Alley, presenting risks from extreme wind events
• Snow and ice accumulation: Winter weather can block panels and reduce production during the already low-output season
• Dust and agricultural debris: The agricultural environment creates ongoing dust accumulation on panels

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several protective measures should be implemented: Installing impact-resistant tempered glass panels or protective screens can help defend against hail damage. Proper mounting systems designed for high wind loads are essential, with secure anchoring appropriate for the local wind conditions. Regular cleaning schedules become particularly important in this dusty agricultural environment to maintain optimal panel efficiency. Snow removal tools and techniques should be planned for winter maintenance, though care must be taken not to damage panels during cleaning. Consider installing monitoring systems that can detect performance drops due to weather-related issues, allowing for prompt maintenance responses. Ground-mounted systems may offer easier access for cleaning and snow removal compared to rooftop installations in this challenging weather environment.

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 Salina

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 38.8253, Longitude: -97.6389 (Salina, 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 Salina, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Salina, United States (Lat/Long 38.8253, -97.6389) 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 Salina, 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 Salina, 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	43° South in Autumn	54° 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 Salina, 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 Salina, 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 Salina, United States

Topographical Features of the Salina Region

Salina sits in the heart of the Great Plains within central Kansas, characterized by predominantly flat to gently rolling terrain that extends for miles in all directions. The city lies at an elevation of approximately 1,200 feet above sea level, positioned within the Smoky Hills region where the landscape consists of broad, open plains punctuated by low, rolling hills and shallow valleys carved by ancient waterways.

The surrounding topography is dominated by agricultural land with minimal elevation changes, creating an expansive vista of farmland and pasture. The Smoky Hill River winds through the area from the northwest to the southeast, creating a shallow valley system that represents the most significant topographical feature in the immediate vicinity. This river valley system includes gentle slopes and occasional limestone outcroppings, but these variations are relatively modest compared to the overall flat character of the region.

North and south of Salina, the terrain remains consistently level with only subtle undulations across the prairie landscape. The soil composition primarily consists of deep, fertile plains soils developed over sedimentary bedrock, with occasional areas of exposed limestone and sandstone formations that create minor variations in the otherwise uniform topography.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The extensive flat and gently rolling plains surrounding Salina present exceptional opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The most suitable areas lie on the broad upland plains both north and south of the city, where the terrain remains consistently level across large expanses. These areas offer the advantage of minimal grading requirements and efficient use of available land for solar panel arrays.

The elevated plains areas west and southwest of Salina are particularly well-suited for solar development due to their combination of flat topography and typically non-agricultural land use. These locations provide excellent access to existing transmission infrastructure while avoiding conflicts with prime agricultural areas. The consistent elevation and lack of significant topographical barriers make these areas ideal for large installations that require uniform panel orientation and minimal shading concerns.

Areas along the broad ridges and gentle slopes of the Smoky Hills region offer additional opportunities, particularly where the terrain provides natural drainage while maintaining relatively flat surfaces suitable for panel installation. The key advantage of this region lies in the vast open spaces with minimal tree cover and few topographical obstacles that could create shading issues or complicate installation procedures.

The plains extending eastward toward the Flint Hills region also present viable options, though developers should consider the gradually increasing elevation changes as the terrain transitions toward the more pronounced hill country. The most practical locations remain those closest to existing electrical infrastructure while maintaining the flat to gently rolling character that defines the Salina area's landscape.

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.