Solar PV Analysis of Kent, Washington, United States
Kent, Washington, in the United States is a decent location for generating solar energy year-round. However, its performance varies quite a bit depending on the season.
In simple terms, the amount of electricity you can generate from solar panels depends on how much sunlight they get. In Kent, your panels would produce the most energy in summer with an average of 6.91 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. This means that if you had 1 kW worth of solar panels installed at your home or business, you could expect to generate about 6.91 kWh of electricity each day during the summer.
In spring and autumn though, this drops down to around 5.21 kWh/day and 2.54 kWh/day respectively per kW installed due to less sunlight hours and intensity compared to summer months.
Winter produces even less power at only about 1.33 kWh/day per kW because there are fewer daylight hours and often more cloud cover.
To maximize total year-round production from these solar PV systems at this location, it's best to tilt your fixed panel installation towards South at an angle of approximately 39 degrees.
As far as local factors that could affect production go - weather is definitely one factor in Kent as it experiences all four seasons including cloudy winters which may limit sun exposure significantly for some parts of the year but particularly so during winter months when days are shorter too.
Also relevant could be any tall structures or trees nearby that might cast shadows over your panels throughout different times in a day or across different seasons; blocking out direct sunlight will reduce their efficiency.
To ensure greater energy production despite these challenges:
- You might consider installing additional capacity i.e., more panels than initially planned so as to compensate for lower winter productivity.
- Regular cleaning and maintenance are also key because dust or snow accumulation on your panel surface can limit sunlight absorption.
- You could also consider a tracking system that follows the sun's path across the sky to maximise exposure, although these are more expensive.
Remember though, while some seasons will be less productive than others, your solar panels will still be producing electricity and reducing your reliance on grid power year-round.
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 Kent, Washington
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 47.3798, Longitude: -122.2893 (Kent, Washington, 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 Kent, Washington, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Kent, Washington, United States (Lat/Long 47.3798, -122.2893) 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 Kent, Washington, 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 Kent, Washington, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31° South in Summer | 50° South in Autumn | 61° South in Winter | 39° 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 Kent, Washington, 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 Kent, Washington, 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 Kent, Washington, United States
Kent, Washington, United States is located in the Pacific Northwest region and is characterized by a mix of flat and hilly terrain. It's situated within the Puget Sound Lowlands, between Seattle to the north and Tacoma to the south. The city itself is relatively flat with some rolling hills while surrounding areas feature more significant elevation changes.
The area has several large bodies of water nearby including Puget Sound and Lake Washington. Furthermore, it's surrounded by mountain ranges: Cascade Range to its east and Olympic Mountains across the Puget Sound to its west.
As for solar PV installations, Kent gets an average of 152 sunny days per year which is less than many parts of U.S., but solar panels can still produce energy on cloudy days. Therefore, suitable sites for large-scale solar PV would be where there are vast open spaces with minimal shading from trees or other structures.
In terms of specific locations around Kent that may be well-suited for large-scale solar PV projects:
1) Flat agricultural lands in rural areas outside Kent city limits could provide ample space needed for such a project.
2) Industrial zones could also serve as potential sites given their typically spacious rooftops ideal for installing photovoltaic panels.
3) Unused public lands or brownfield sites (previously developed land that's not currently in use) might be another option if local regulations permit renewable energy projects on these types of land.
However, any plan would need a thorough site assessment considering factors like local climate conditions (amount of sunlight received), soil stability (for ground-mounted systems), proximity to power grids (for feeding generated electricity into), environmental impact considerations among others.
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 15th of May 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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.
