Solar PV Analysis of Somerville, United States
Somerville, Massachusetts, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a moderately suitable environment for solar energy generation throughout the year. The city's location at latitude 42.3797 and longitude -71.1034 experiences significant seasonal variations in solar energy production.
Seasonal Solar Performance
Solar panels in Somerville perform best during the summer months, producing an average of 5.75 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows closely behind with 5.42 kWh/day. Autumn sees a noticeable decrease to 3.35 kWh/day, while winter experiences the lowest output at 2.01 kWh/day per kW installed.
The substantial difference between summer and winter production highlights the impact of shorter days and lower sun angles during colder months. However, the relatively strong performance in spring and summer makes solar energy a viable option for this location.
Optimal Panel Positioning
To maximize year-round energy production, fixed solar panels in Somerville should be tilted at a 37-degree angle facing south. This angle optimizes the panels' exposure to sunlight throughout the year, balancing the varying sun positions across seasons.
Environmental Considerations
While Somerville's location is generally favorable for solar energy, there are some environmental factors to consider:
- Snow accumulation in winter can temporarily reduce panel efficiency
- Tree cover and building shadows may impact some installations
To mitigate these issues, installers can use snow-shedding panel designs, carefully plan panel placement to avoid shading, and implement regular maintenance schedules to ensure optimal performance.
Conclusion
Despite seasonal variations and some environmental challenges, Somerville's location provides a good opportunity for solar energy production. With proper installation techniques and ongoing maintenance, solar PV systems can effectively contribute to the city's energy needs throughout the year.
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 Somerville
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 42.3797, Longitude: -71.1034 (Somerville, 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 37° South in Somerville, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Somerville, United States (Lat/Long 42.3797, -71.1034) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 37° 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 Somerville, 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 Somerville, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 37° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26° South in Summer | 47° South in Autumn | 57° South in Winter | 35° 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 Somerville, 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 Somerville, 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 Somerville, United States
The topography around Somerville, Massachusetts, is generally characterized by gently rolling terrain with some low hills. Somerville itself is situated in a relatively flat area, with elevations ranging from about 4 to 75 feet above sea level. The city is part of the greater Boston metropolitan area, which is located in the coastal lowlands of eastern Massachusetts.
To the north and west of Somerville, the terrain becomes slightly more hilly, with areas like Tufts University in Medford sitting atop one of the more prominent hills in the immediate vicinity. To the east, the land slopes gently towards the Mystic River and Boston Harbor. South of Somerville, across the Charles River, lies the city of Boston, which has a similar low-lying topography with some small hills scattered throughout.
In terms of areas nearby that would be most suited to large-scale solar PV installations, the relatively flat and open spaces would be ideal. However, given the urban and suburban nature of the region around Somerville, finding large, unoccupied areas for solar farms may be challenging. Some potential locations for solar PV projects could include:
- Former industrial sites or brownfields in nearby communities
- Large commercial or institutional rooftops, such as warehouses or university buildings
- Parking lots, where solar canopies could be installed
- Undeveloped land parcels in less densely populated areas to the north and west
It's important to note that while the topography around Somerville is generally favorable for solar installations, the dense urban development and limited open space in the immediate area may pose challenges for large-scale projects. Smaller, distributed solar installations on existing structures may be more feasible in this region.
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: Friday 30th of August 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.
