Solar PV Analysis of Thornton, United States
In simple terms, Thornton, Colorado is a decent place to produce electricity using solar panels all year round. However, the amount of energy you can get from your solar panels changes with each season.
During summer, you can expect to generate a good amount of energy - about 7.55 kilowatt-hours per day for every kilowatt of installed solar power. This is because the sun shines longer and brighter in the summer months.
Autumn and spring are also suitable times for generating solar power but not as much as in summer. You'll be able to generate around 4.78 kilowatt-hours per day in autumn and about 5.76 kilowatt-hours per day in spring for every kilowatt of installed solar power.
Winter has the least potential for generating electricity from your panels due to shorter daylight hours and less intense sunlight - only around 3.23 kilowatt-hours per day per each installed kW of solar power.
To maximize your year-round production from these panels at this location, it's best to tilt them toward the south at an angle of 35 degrees.
As far as local factors that could affect how much energy you can generate from your panels go, weather conditions like heavy snowfall or hail storms could potentially damage your system or block sunlight reaching it during winter months given its northern temperate zone location; while dust accumulation on panel surfaces might reduce their efficiency over time regardless of season. It's therefore important when installing these systems here that they're built sturdy enough to withstand harsh weather conditions and regularly cleaned off any dirt or snow cover so they remain efficient throughout their service life.
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 Thornton
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.9683, Longitude: -104.9122 (Thornton, 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 Thornton, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Thornton, United States (Lat/Long 39.9683, -104.9122) 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 Thornton, 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 Thornton, 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 | 44° South in Autumn | 55° 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 Thornton, 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 Thornton, 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 Thornton, United States
Thornton, United States is located in the state of Colorado and is part of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area. The topography around Thornton is generally flat with gentle rolling hills, as it lies on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. This area has a semi-arid climate with lots of sunshine throughout the year.
The nearby areas that would be most suited to large-scale solar PV installations are those with large expanses of open, relatively flat land that receive high levels of sunlight. These could include agricultural lands or other undeveloped areas around Thornton.
Additionally, considering Colorado's commitment towards renewable energy and its abundant sunshine (it ranks among the top states for solar potential), areas such as Adams County where Thornton resides could be suitable for solar PV installations.
However, it's important to note that before installing any large-scale solar projects, factors such as land use regulations, proximity to transmission lines and substations for grid connection, environmental impact assessments among others need to be considered.
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: Thursday 2nd of May 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.
