Solar Energy Potential in Waterville, Maine

Waterville, Maine, in the United States presents a moderate location for solar PV energy generation, with significant seasonal variations throughout the year. Located in the Northern Temperate Zone, this area experiences distinct seasons that directly impact solar energy production capabilities. The seasonal performance data shows a clear pattern. Summer yields the highest output at 5.76 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely with 5.36 kWh/day. Production drops considerably in autumn to 3.13 kWh/day, while winter sees the lowest generation at just 1.95 kWh/day per kilowatt installed.

Optimal Installation Parameters

For fixed solar panel installations in Waterville, the ideal tilt angle is 39 degrees facing South. This specific angle maximizes total year-round energy production from solar PV systems in this location. This carefully calculated angle balances the seasonal variations in the sun's position to optimize annual energy harvest.

Seasonal Considerations

The best times for solar energy production in Waterville are clearly the summer and spring months, when daily output is nearly three times higher than winter production. From approximately May through August, solar systems will operate at peak efficiency, making this an excellent period to rely on solar generation. Spring (March through May) also performs admirably. Autumn and winter present challenges for solar generation in this location. From November through February especially, solar output drops significantly, requiring either supplemental energy sources or energy storage solutions to maintain consistent power supply.

Environmental Challenges

Several environmental factors in Waterville can affect solar production:

• Snow accumulation presents a significant challenge during winter months, potentially covering panels and reducing or eliminating generation. Installing panels at the 39-degree tilt helps shed snow more effectively than flatter installations.
• Maine's northern climate brings frequent overcast days, particularly in winter, further reducing generation during already low-production months.
• Tree coverage can be substantial in this region, requiring careful site selection to avoid shading issues.

Preventative Measures

To maximize solar production in Waterville despite these challenges:

• Install panels with sufficient elevation from the ground to prevent snow burial and facilitate natural snow shedding.
• Consider snow-removal systems or accessible panel locations that allow for manual clearing when necessary.
• Conduct thorough shade analysis before installation, accounting for deciduous trees that may block sunlight in summer despite being bare in winter.
• Use microinverters or power optimizers to minimize production losses when partial shading occurs.
• Regular panel cleaning, especially after winter, removes accumulated dirt and debris that can reduce efficiency.

While Waterville isn't an ideal location for year-round solar production due to its significant seasonal variations, properly designed systems can still provide substantial energy, particularly when sized appropriately to account for the winter production dip.

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 3038 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 Waterville

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 44.5542, Longitude: -69.6179 (Waterville, 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 Waterville, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Waterville, United States (Lat/Long 44.5542, -69.6179) 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 Waterville, 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 Waterville, 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
28° South in Summer	49° South in Autumn	59° South in Winter	37° 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 Waterville, 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 Waterville, 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 Waterville, United States

The topography around Waterville, Maine presents a varied landscape shaped by ancient glacial activity and the Kennebec River valley. Situated in central Maine's interior lowlands, Waterville occupies a relatively flat area that gradually rises into rolling hills as one moves away from the river. The city itself sits at an elevation of approximately 108 feet (33 meters) above sea level, nestled in a natural basin formed by the Kennebec River which flows north to south through the eastern portion of the city. The immediate terrain around Waterville features modest undulations rather than dramatic elevation changes. To the west, the terrain gradually rises toward the foothills that eventually lead to Maine's western mountains. The eastern side of the Kennebec River displays similar gently rolling topography. This relatively level landscape is punctuated by several streams and smaller waterways that feed into the Kennebec River, creating shallow valleys throughout the region.

Surrounding Landscape Features

Moving outward from Waterville, the terrain becomes more varied. To the northwest, the landscape gradually transitions to more pronounced hills, while the southeastern areas maintain the gentler topography characteristic of the Kennebec River valley. The Messalonskee Stream, a significant tributary of the Kennebec, creates a secondary valley system that runs through the western portion of Waterville. The broader region features scattered small lakes, ponds, and wetlands, remnants of glacial activity that shaped Maine's landscape thousands of years ago. These water features are interspersed among low hills and flat plateaus, creating a patchwork of different landforms.

Optimal Areas for Solar PV Development

For large-scale solar photovoltaic development, the gently sloping south-facing hillsides found throughout the region present ideal conditions. Particularly promising are the elevated plateaus and gradual slopes located to the west and southwest of Waterville, where the combination of elevation and orientation maximizes solar exposure throughout the day. The relatively open agricultural lands surrounding Waterville offer substantial potential for solar development. These areas typically feature cleared fields with minimal shading from trees or other obstructions. The flat to gently rolling former farmlands located in the southern and western outskirts of Waterville provide excellent sites for large solar arrays, with natural drainage and accessible terrain for construction. Areas along the higher elevations of the modest ridgelines running north-south through the region west of the Kennebec River also present favorable conditions. These slightly elevated positions receive consistent sunlight and often avoid early morning or late afternoon shading that can affect valley locations. The terrain around Oakland and Sidney, neighboring communities to Waterville, contains numerous suitable sites where the combination of elevation, aspect (south-facing orientation), and existing cleared land create ideal conditions for solar development. These areas benefit from the moderate topography that provides good drainage without excessive slopes that would complicate construction. It's worth noting that while the immediate river valleys may seem appealing due to their flat nature, they may experience more fog and moisture conditions due to proximity to water. The slightly elevated areas away from immediate waterways generally provide more reliable solar exposure while still maintaining the construction advantages of relatively level terrain.

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.