Lewiston, New York, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations that potential solar installers should carefully consider.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows dramatic seasonal swings. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 6.11 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it an excellent time for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.16 kWh per day per kW, providing robust energy production as daylight hours increase. Autumn marks a notable decline to 3.00 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging period with only 1.72 kWh per day per kW. This represents more than a three-fold difference between peak summer and winter production, which is typical for northern temperate locations but requires careful planning for year-round energy needs.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed panel installations at Lewiston, the ideal tilt angle is 37 degrees facing south to maximize total year-round solar production. This angle is calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles throughout the year and weighting them according to solar irradiance data to find the optimal compromise across all seasons.

Local Environmental Challenges

Several environmental and weather factors in the Lewiston area can significantly impact solar energy production:

• Heavy snow accumulation during winter months can completely block solar panels
• Frequent cloud cover and overcast conditions, particularly common in the Great Lakes region
• Ice formation on panels during freeze-thaw cycles
• Lake-effect weather patterns from nearby Lake Ontario that can reduce solar irradiance

Preventative Measures for Better Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective:

• Install panels at steeper angles (closer to the calculated 37 degrees) to encourage snow to slide off naturally
• Ensure adequate spacing between panel rows to prevent shading when snow accumulates
• Use mounting systems that allow safe access for snow removal when necessary
• Consider anti-icing coatings or heating elements for critical installations
• Install panels with sufficient structural support to handle heavy snow loads
• Position installations away from areas where falling snow or ice from roofs might damage equipment

The location's proximity to Lake Ontario creates unique weather patterns that can both help and hinder solar production. While lake effects can increase cloud cover, they can also moderate extreme temperatures, potentially improving panel efficiency during hot summer periods when panels typically lose efficiency in excessive heat.

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 Lewiston, New York

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.1743, Longitude: -79.0215 (Lewiston, New York, 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 Lewiston, New York, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Lewiston, New York, United States (Lat/Long 43.1743, -79.0215) 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 Lewiston, New York, 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 Lewiston, New York, 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
27° South in Summer	46° South in Autumn	57° 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 Lewiston, New York, 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 Lewiston, New York, 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 Lewiston, New York, United States

Topographical Features of Lewiston

Lewiston sits within the Niagara River corridor, positioned on relatively flat terrain that forms part of the Great Lakes Plain. The landscape around this area is characterized by gentle rolling hills and broad, open spaces that gradually slope toward Lake Ontario to the north. The elevation changes are modest, creating expansive views across the surrounding countryside without significant obstructions from steep terrain or deep valleys.

The region benefits from its location on the ancient lake bed of glacial Lake Iroquois, which has left behind fertile, well-drained soils and a predominantly level topography. This geological history has created large tracts of agricultural land that stretch for miles in multiple directions, interrupted only by occasional woodlots and farm buildings. The terrain becomes slightly more undulating as it extends southward toward the Niagara Escarpment, but the immediate vicinity remains remarkably flat.

Climate and Weather Patterns

The local climate is influenced by the moderating effects of the Great Lakes, particularly Lake Ontario. This proximity helps reduce temperature extremes and creates relatively stable weather conditions throughout much of the year. The area experiences a continental climate with distinct seasons, including clear winter days when snow cover can actually enhance solar radiation through reflection.

Weather patterns in the region are generally favorable for solar energy production, with the lake effect helping to clear atmospheric moisture and reduce the frequency of prolonged cloudy periods. The prevailing winds from the west and southwest help maintain good air quality, minimizing atmospheric particles that could reduce solar panel efficiency.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most promising locations for substantial solar installations lie in the agricultural areas extending eastward and southward from Lewiston. These zones offer several key advantages including minimal topographical challenges, excellent southern exposure, and large contiguous parcels of land that could accommodate utility-scale solar farms without significant grading or site preparation.

The farmland southeast of the community presents particularly attractive opportunities, where gently sloping fields provide natural drainage while maintaining optimal angles for solar panel installation. These areas are far enough from residential neighborhoods to minimize visual impact concerns while remaining accessible to existing electrical infrastructure along major transportation corridors.

Areas to the west, closer to the Niagara River, may face some constraints due to environmental considerations and proximity to recreational zones. However, the elevated plateaus in this direction still offer good potential for smaller commercial installations that could take advantage of unobstructed southern exposure.

The northern sections, while flatter, may encounter occasional challenges from lake-effect weather patterns and require careful consideration of seasonal wind patterns. Nevertheless, these areas remain viable for solar development, particularly where large open fields provide ample space for proper panel spacing and maintenance access.

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

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.