Solar PV Analysis of Waipahu, United States
Waipahu, Hawaii is a good location for generating solar energy all year round due to its tropical climate. The sun shines consistently throughout most of the year, which means that solar panels can produce electricity regularly. However, the amount of electricity generated varies with each season.
In summer and spring, the panels can generate more electricity - about 7.86 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in summer and 7.19 kWh/day in spring for every kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power. This means that these are the best times to generate solar power at this location.
During autumn and winter, there's less sunlight so the panels produce less electricity - around 6.19 kWh/day in autumn and 4.91 kWh/day in winter per kW of installed solar power.
To get the most out of your solar panels year-round at this location, you should tilt them towards south at an angle of 19 degrees. This position will let them capture as much sunlight as possible throughout different seasons.
However, there could be some local factors that might affect how much energy you can produce from your solar installation here:
1- Weather: Although Waipahu gets lots of sunshine throughout the year because it's located in a tropical region where wet and dry seasons are common; heavy rainfall during wet season might reduce amount of sunlight reaching your panels hence reducing their output.
2- Environmental: Dust or dirt on your panel surface will block sunlight from reaching cells within panel thus decreasing their efficiency.
Preventative measures against these factors include regular cleaning especially after heavy rains or dust storms to ensure they're always working efficiently; also consider installing them somewhere with minimal shading like rooftops away from trees or other tall structures blocking direct sunlight exposure.
Overall though given consistent sunshine levels across majority part-year Waipahu is generally an ideal place for harnessing sun’s energy through photovoltaic systems all-year round.
Note: The Tropics are located between 23.5° North and -23.5° South of the equator.
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 Waipahu
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 21.4001, Longitude: -158.016 (Waipahu, 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 19° South in Waipahu, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Waipahu, United States (Lat/Long 21.4001, -158.016) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 19° 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 Waipahu, 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 Waipahu, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 19° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5° South in Summer | 27° South in Autumn | 37° South in Winter | 14° 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 Waipahu, 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 Waipahu, 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 Waipahu, United States
Waipahu is located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, United States. The topography around Waipahu is characterized by flat to gently sloping terrain with some hilly areas nearby. It's surrounded by residential and commercial areas, agricultural lands, and some patches of forested land.
As for large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping terrains are usually preferred as they require less site preparation work. Therefore, unused agricultural lands or open spaces could be potential sites for such installations.
However, it's important to note that the suitability of a location for solar PV doesn't just depend on its topography but also factors like solar irradiation levels (which are high in Hawaii), availability of grid infrastructure for power evacuation, land use regulations among others.
The coastal areas near Waipahu receive ample sunlight throughout the year making them suitable for large-scale solar PV installation. Areas towards the Ewa Plains might also be considered due to their relatively flat terrain and open space availability.
Before any decision can be made though, detailed site-specific studies would need to be carried out considering all these factors together with environmental impact assessments.
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: Friday 22nd of March 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.
