Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the United States offers varying potential for solar energy generation throughout the year. Located in the Northern Temperate Zone, this coastal New England town experiences distinct seasonal changes that directly impact solar electricity production.

Seasonal Solar Production

Solar panels in Plymouth generate their highest output during the summer months, producing an average of 6.05kWh of electricity per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows closely behind with 5.71kWh/day per installed kW. Production drops significantly in autumn to 3.56kWh/day, while winter sees the lowest generation at just 2.04kWh/day per kW installed.

This seasonal pattern means Plymouth residents can expect roughly three times more solar electricity production in summer compared to winter. The substantial difference highlights how the region's seasonal variations impact solar potential throughout the year.

Optimal Panel Installation

For maximum year-round electricity generation in Plymouth, fixed solar panels should be installed at a 36-degree tilt facing south. This specific angle has been calculated to optimize annual production by accounting for Plymouth's latitude and the seasonal changes in the sun's position throughout the year.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several local factors can affect solar production in Plymouth:

• Snow accumulation during winter months can temporarily cover panels, reducing output during the already low-production season
• Coastal fog and marine layer effects may reduce morning production, particularly in spring and summer
• New England's frequent nor'easter storms bring cloudy conditions that can diminish solar generation for multiple days
• Salt spray from the nearby Atlantic Ocean can gradually accumulate on panels, reducing efficiency if not addressed

Preventative Measures

To maximize solar production in Plymouth despite these challenges, several installation strategies can help:

• Installing panels at the recommended 36-degree tilt helps snow slide off more easily
• Regular cleaning to remove salt residue, especially after stormy periods
• Using micro-inverters or power optimizers to minimize production losses when some panels are partially shaded or snow-covered
• Considering slightly oversizing the system to compensate for the significant winter production drop

Overall, Plymouth offers good solar potential, particularly from late spring through early fall. While winter production drops considerably, the annual average makes solar viable for most residential and commercial applications when properly designed for local conditions.

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 Plymouth, Massachusetts

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 41.9137, Longitude: -70.6393 (Plymouth, Massachusetts, 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 36° South in Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States (Lat/Long 41.9137, -70.6393) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 36° 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 Plymouth, Massachusetts, 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 Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 36° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
25° South in Summer	46° South in Autumn	56° 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 Plymouth, Massachusetts, 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 Plymouth, Massachusetts, 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 Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States

Plymouth, Massachusetts, situated on the eastern coast of the United States at approximately 41.9137°N, 70.6393°W, presents a diverse topographical landscape shaped by glacial activity from the last Ice Age. The terrain around Plymouth is characterized by a mix of relatively flat coastal plains, gently rolling hills, kettle ponds, and scattered wetlands. The immediate coastline features sandy beaches and dunes along Cape Cod Bay, gradually rising to low-elevation uplands moving inland. This coastal plain extends several miles inland before transitioning to more varied terrain. Throughout the region, glacial deposits have created drumlin hills—oval-shaped mounds typically oriented in a north-south direction—that rise above the surrounding landscape, rarely exceeding 100-200 feet in elevation.

Glacial Features and Water Bodies

Plymouth's landscape is dotted with numerous kettle ponds, formed when blocks of glacial ice became buried in sediment and later melted, creating depressions that filled with water. The most notable of these is Billington Sea, a large kettle pond located just southwest of Plymouth Center. The area also contains significant wetland ecosystems, including cranberry bogs, marshes, and swamps. The town is intersected by several small rivers and streams, including Town Brook and the Jones River, which have carved shallow valleys through the glacial deposits.

Forested Areas and Open Spaces

Much of Plymouth County features mixed forests of pine and oak, interspersed with cleared areas for agriculture, residential development, and commercial use. The northern and western portions of Plymouth contain larger tracts of forested land, particularly in areas like Myles Standish State Forest, which encompasses thousands of acres of pitch pine and scrub oak forest growing on sandy, well-drained soil.

Optimal Areas for Solar PV Development

For large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, several areas around Plymouth offer favorable conditions: The inland plains and gently sloping areas away from the immediate coastline provide ideal settings for solar farms. These locations typically experience less fog than coastal sites and offer large, continuous tracts of land with minimal shading from topographical features. Former agricultural fields and cleared lands in the western portions of Plymouth County present opportunities for solar development without significant land clearing requirements. These areas often have good southern exposure and minimal obstructions. The sandy, well-drained soils found throughout much of the region, particularly in areas like Myles Standish State Forest and surrounding lands, provide stable ground for mounting systems without excessive site preparation costs. Areas to avoid would include the numerous wetlands, protected conservation lands, and densely forested regions that would require significant clearing. Additionally, the immediate coastal areas may experience more frequent fog and sea spray, which could impact solar panel efficiency and maintenance requirements. The gently rolling terrain in central and western Plymouth County offers the best compromise between available land, suitable topography, and proximity to existing transmission infrastructure. These areas typically feature elevations between 100-300 feet above sea level with gradual slopes facing south or southwest—ideal for maximizing solar gain throughout the year.

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.