Solar PV Analysis of South Portland, United States
South Portland, Maine is a decent location for year-round solar energy production, though it's not the most ideal. The amount of electricity you can generate from solar panels depends on how much sunlight they receive. In South Portland, this varies throughout the year.
In summer and spring, you can expect to produce quite a bit of electricity - around 5.79 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in summer and 5.37 kWh/day in spring for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. This means that these seasons are excellent times to generate solar power at this location because there's plenty of sunlight.
However, during autumn and winter, the daily output drops significantly due to less daylight hours - down to about 3.30 kWh/day in autumn and just 1.96 kWh/day in winter per kW of installed solar panels.
To maximize your yearly total production from your solar photovoltaic (PV) system at this location, you should ideally tilt your fixed panel installation towards south by an angle of 38 degrees.
As far as environmental or weather factors go that could potentially impede your ability to produce electricity from your PV system in South Portland:
- Snowfall: Being located in Maine where snowfall is common during winters could cover up the panels reducing their efficiency.
- Cloud Cover: Overcast days would also reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the panels thus reducing their output.
Steps can be taken to mitigate these issues:
- Regularly clearing off any snow accumulation on the panels will ensure they get enough sunlight.
- Installing more efficient types of PV systems or adding more modules may help compensate for periods with less sun exposure due to cloud cover or shorter daylight hours.
Overall though, while some challenges exist mainly due to seasonal changes and weather conditions typical for northern climates like Maine’s; with proper planning and maintenance one can still effectively harness solar energy year-round at this location.
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 South Portland
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.6327, Longitude: -70.2735 (South Portland, 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 38° South in South Portland, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in South Portland, United States (Lat/Long 43.6327, -70.2735) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 38° 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 South Portland, 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 South Portland, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 38° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27° South in Summer | 48° South in Autumn | 58° South in Winter | 36° 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 South Portland, 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 South Portland, 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 South Portland, United States
South Portland, located in the state of Maine in the United States, is characterized by a mixed topography. The city itself is largely urbanized with buildings and infrastructure. It's situated on a peninsula extending into Casco Bay, so it has several coastal areas with beaches and harbors. The land rises gradually from the coast to inland areas.
The surrounding region features more varied topography including forests, hills, rivers and lakes. To the west of South Portland are more elevated regions like the White Mountains which extend across parts of Maine and New Hampshire.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping lands are typically most suitable as they minimize installation costs and maximize exposure to sunlight. Areas that are not heavily forested would also be preferable to reduce tree removal costs.
Given these considerations:
1) Unused farmland or open fields in rural areas around South Portland could potentially be good sites for large-scale solar PV installations.
2) Brownfield sites - abandoned industrial lands that may have been contaminated from past use - can also be an excellent choice if they have been cleaned up because they're usually flat, cleared of trees and close to existing power infrastructure.
3) Rooftops of large commercial or industrial buildings within South Portland itself might also be viable locations for smaller scale installations.
However, any proposed site would need a detailed assessment considering factors such as local climate (including average sunshine hours), soil condition for ground-mounted systems, proximity to power grids for connection ease/costs among other factors.
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 3rd of July 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.
