Shirley, New York, United States offers a moderately good location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations that are typical for locations in the Northern Temperate Zone.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows strong seasonal patterns. Summer delivers the highest production at 6.27 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the peak season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.76 kWh per day per kW, offering nearly as much energy production as summer. Autumn sees a notable drop in solar output to 3.63 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.08 kWh per day per kW of production. This winter figure represents about one-third of the summer output, which is a substantial seasonal variation that solar system owners should plan for. The ideal months for solar generation at this location span from late spring through early autumn, with summer and spring being particularly productive seasons. Winter months will require supplementary energy sources or battery storage systems for properties seeking energy independence.

Optimal Panel Installation

For maximum year-round solar energy production at this Shirley, New York location, fixed solar panels should be tilted at 35 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize total annual energy output by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year and weighting for the solar irradiance potential at different times.

Local Environmental Factors

Several environmental and weather factors in the Shirley area can impact solar energy production and should be considered during installation planning. Snow accumulation during winter months represents the most significant challenge for solar panels in this region. Heavy snow can completely block panels from receiving sunlight, effectively reducing energy production to zero until the snow melts or is removed. Installing panels at the recommended 35-degree tilt angle helps with natural snow shedding, as the steep angle encourages snow to slide off more easily than flat installations. The coastal proximity of Shirley, being located on Long Island, introduces salt air exposure that can gradually degrade solar panel frames and mounting systems over time. This requires using marine-grade aluminum frames and stainless steel mounting hardware specifically designed to resist corrosion from salt exposure.

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize solar energy production despite these local challenges, several installation strategies prove effective:

• Install panels with adequate spacing between rows to prevent snow buildup and allow for easier cleaning access
• Use mounting systems with marine-grade materials and protective coatings to resist salt air corrosion
• Ensure proper drainage around ground-mounted systems to prevent ice formation that could damage equipment
• Consider micro-inverters or power optimizers to minimize the impact when individual panels are partially shaded by snow or debris

Regular maintenance becomes particularly important in this location, including periodic cleaning to remove salt residue and inspection of mounting hardware for signs of corrosion. Planning for safe snow removal access during system design can help maintain winter energy production when possible. Despite these environmental considerations, Shirley's solar potential remains quite reasonable for the northeastern United States, with strong spring and summer production seasons that can offset the lower winter output for most residential and commercial applications.

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 Shirley

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 40.8018, Longitude: -72.8675 (Shirley, 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 35° South in Shirley, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Shirley, United States (Lat/Long 40.8018, -72.8675) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 35° 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 Shirley, 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 Shirley, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 35° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
24° South in Summer	45° South in Autumn	56° South in Winter	33° 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 Shirley, 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 Shirley, 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 Shirley, United States

Topography Around Shirley, New York

Shirley is located on the south shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York, positioned between the Pine Barrens to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The area sits within the broader Long Island coastal plain, characterized by relatively flat terrain with gentle rolling hills and low elevation changes. The landscape was shaped by glacial activity during the last ice age, resulting in sandy soils and subtle undulations across the region.

The immediate vicinity of Shirley features predominantly flat to gently sloping terrain, with elevations rarely exceeding 100 feet above sea level. The topography gradually rises from the coastal areas toward the interior, creating a series of low ridges and shallow valleys. Much of the surrounding landscape consists of mixed pine and oak forests, interspersed with residential developments, agricultural fields, and patches of wetlands.

To the north of Shirley lies the Long Island Pine Barrens, a unique ecosystem of sandy soils and scrub pine forests that extends across much of central Suffolk County. This area features relatively uniform, flat terrain broken by occasional small hills and depressions. The Pine Barrens region maintains much of its natural character due to environmental protections, though cleared areas and former agricultural lands can be found throughout.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The flat to gently rolling topography throughout the Shirley region provides excellent opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The most suitable areas would be the cleared agricultural fields and former farmland that dot the landscape north and west of the community. These open spaces typically feature minimal slope variations and have already been cleared of vegetation, reducing development costs and environmental impact.

The areas along the northern edges of the Pine Barrens present particularly attractive opportunities, where former agricultural lands have been abandoned or are underutilized. These locations benefit from the flat terrain characteristic of the region while being situated away from dense residential areas. The sandy soils in these areas, while challenging for agriculture, actually provide good drainage for solar installations and easier construction access.

Industrial and commercial zones in the broader Suffolk County area surrounding Shirley also offer potential for large-scale solar development. Many of these areas feature large, flat parcels that were previously developed or cleared for industrial use. The existing infrastructure in these zones, including electrical grid connections and road access, makes them particularly well-suited for utility-scale solar projects.

The relatively uniform topography across much of central Long Island means that solar installations in this region would not face significant challenges from steep slopes, complex terrain, or dramatic elevation changes. This consistent, gentle landscape extends for miles in all directions from Shirley, providing numerous potential sites for large-scale renewable energy development while maintaining appropriate distances from sensitive coastal and residential areas.

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.