Solar PV Analysis of Wasilla, United States
In simple terms, the location at Wasilla, Alaska is not ideal for generating energy from solar panels all year round due to its geographical position in the Northern Temperate Zone. However, there are certain times of the year when it can be quite effective.
During summer and spring, you can expect a decent amount of energy production from your solar panels - 5.00 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in summer and 4.45 kWh/day in spring for each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power. These seasons provide longer daylight hours which means more sunlight for your solar panels to convert into electricity.
On the other hand, autumn and winter see a significant drop in output due to shorter daylight hours and less intense sunlight - only about 1.42 kWh/day in autumn and as low as 0.48 kWh/day during winter per kW of installed solar power.
For this specific location, if you're installing fixed panel solar installations (panels that don't move or track the sun), tilting them at an angle of 52 degrees towards south would give you maximum total yearly production from your photovoltaic system because it aligns better with where the sun's path across the sky throughout different times of year.
There could be some local factors like snowfall or cloud cover that might affect how much sunlight reaches your panels especially during colder months when these conditions are likely to occur more frequently. Snow accumulation on top of your panels can block sunlight while heavy cloud cover reduces intensity of sunlight reaching them - both reducing their efficiency significantly.
To deal with these issues:
- Regularly cleaning off snow from your panels will help ensure they get as much light exposure as possible.
- Using high-quality equipment designed specifically for harsh weather conditions can also help increase durability and performance.
So while Wasilla may not provide optimal conditions all year round for generating electricity via solar PV systems compared to places closer to the equator, it can still be a viable option especially during spring and summer months if managed appropriately.
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 Wasilla
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 61.5883, Longitude: -149.3959 (Wasilla, 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 52° South in Wasilla, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Wasilla, United States (Lat/Long 61.5883, -149.3959) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 52° 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 Wasilla, 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 Wasilla, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 52° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45° South in Summer | 63° South in Autumn | 73° South in Winter | 53° 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 Wasilla, 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 Wasilla, 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 Wasilla, United States
Wasilla is located in the south-central part of Alaska, United States. The topography around Wasilla is characterized by a mix of flatlands and hilly terrains, with numerous lakes and rivers. It's surrounded by majestic mountain ranges including the Talkeetna Mountains to the north and east, and Chugach Mountains to the south.
However, when considering large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, it's important to consider not only topography but also local climate conditions. Despite its relatively flat terrain which could be suitable for solar PV installation from a topographical perspective, Wasilla has a subarctic climate with long winters and short summers. Its location near the 62nd parallel means it experiences low sun angles for much of the year which results in less sunlight reaching solar panels compared to lower latitude locations.
Moreover, Wasilla receives significant snowfall during winter months that can obstruct sunlight reaching solar panels unless they are regularly cleared off. Therefore overall potential for large-scale solar power generation might be limited in this region due to these climatic factors.
For more efficient large-scale PV systems within Alaska itself, areas with less cloud cover or higher average annual sunshine hours should be considered - such as Fairbanks area where despite being further north than Wasilla has slightly better solar resource because of its continental climate with clearer skies.
However generally speaking regions at lower latitudes like southwestern U.S states (Arizona,Nevada etc.) would typically have greater potential for utility scale PV due to their high levels of insolation throughout most parts of 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!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Sunday 28th of April 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.
