Solar PV Analysis of Liberty, Maine, United States
Liberty, Maine, in the United States is a fairly good location for generating energy using solar photovoltaic (PV) systems throughout the year. The amount of electricity that can be generated varies by season.
In summer and spring, you can expect to generate quite a bit of electricity - around 5.79 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in summer and about 5.41 kWh/day in spring for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. This means these are the best times to generate solar power at this location.
However, during autumn and winter, the output drops significantly due to fewer daylight hours and lower sun angles - down to about 3.19 kWh/day in autumn and only around 2.01 kWh/day in winter per kW of installed solar.
To get the most out of your solar PV system year-round at this location, it's recommended that you tilt your panels at an angle of 39 degrees facing southwards towards the sun.
As far as environmental or weather factors go that could potentially hinder your solar production here: Liberty experiences significant seasonal variation with long winters which may limit sunlight exposure on shorter days or cover panels with snowfall occasionally; there are also periods when cloud cover might reduce sunlight availability.
To mitigate these factors:
1) Regular cleaning/maintenance helps keep snow off panels.
2) If possible, consider installing a tracking system so panels follow the sun across sky for maximum exposure.
3) Use high-quality PV modules designed to perform well even under less than ideal light conditions like cloudy skies.
4) Consider installing additional capacity if budget allows so as not to rely solely on peak summer output.
Overall though, despite some challenges particularly during winter months – Liberty still offers decent potential for harnessing solar energy over course of entire year given proper setup & maintenance practices are followed!
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 3041 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 Liberty, Maine
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 44.3776, Longitude: -69.328 (Liberty, Maine, 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 39° South in Liberty, Maine, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Liberty, Maine, United States (Lat/Long 44.3776, -69.328) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 39° 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 Liberty, Maine, 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 Liberty, Maine, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 39° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28° South in Summer | 48° South in Autumn | 59° South in Winter | 37° 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 Liberty, Maine, 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 Liberty, Maine, 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 Liberty, Maine, United States
Liberty, United States located in the state of Maine, is characterized by a hilly landscape with mixed forests and numerous bodies of water including Lake Saint George. The terrain has a mix of flat areas as well as rolling hills.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping areas are most suitable since they require less groundwork and can accommodate more panels. In addition, these locations should have good sun exposure throughout the year without significant shading from trees or other structures.
Given this criteria, farmlands or other open spaces around Liberty would be most suited for large-scale solar PV installations. It's important to note that such projects should also consider factors like proximity to power grids for energy transmission and potential environmental impacts.
However, it is crucial to conduct a detailed site-specific assessment before making any decisions about where to place a large scale solar installation because many factors can affect the efficiency and feasibility of such projects.
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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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Sunday 23rd of June 2024
Last Updated: Sunday 23rd of June 2024
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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.
