Solar PV Analysis of Williamsport, United States
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, is a location where you can generate electricity through solar panels all year round. However, the amount of electricity you can generate varies significantly by season.
During the summer and spring months, your solar panels would be most productive - they could generate around 5.90 and 5.14 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed respectively. This means that these are the best times to harness solar energy in Williamsport.
However, in autumn and winter, your solar panels' production would drop to about 3.10 kWh/day and 1.87 kWh/day per kW installed respectively due to shorter daylight hours and less intense sunlight.
To maximize your yearly energy production from your solar photovoltaic system (solar PV), you should tilt your panels at an angle of 35 degrees facing South if you're going for a fixed panel installation.
As for local factors that might affect your solar production in Williamsport - it's important to consider weather conditions like heavy snowfall or cloud cover during winter months which could reduce sunlight reaching the panels or even cover them entirely temporarily reducing their output significantly until cleared.
Also consider any tall buildings or trees nearby that might cast shadows on the panel during different times of day/year; this could also reduce its efficiency.
To prevent these potential problems:
- You can install devices like snow guards on top of your solar array to help keep snow off.
- Regularly clean and maintain your system so it's working as efficiently as possible.
- Try placing them somewhere without obstructions blocking sunlight.
Remember though: despite these potential challenges, with good planning & maintenance - a well-installed & managed system should still provide a significant proportion of power needs across the year at this location!
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 Williamsport
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 41.2382, Longitude: -76.9978 (Williamsport, 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 35° South in Williamsport, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Williamsport, United States (Lat/Long 41.2382, -76.9978) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 35° 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 Williamsport, 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 Williamsport, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 35° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25° South in Summer | 45° South in Autumn | 56° South in Winter | 34° 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 Williamsport, 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 Williamsport, 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 Williamsport, United States
Williamsport is located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, specifically within Lycoming County. The city is situated in a valley with the Susquehanna River running through it. The topography of the area is characterized by rolling hills and forested areas, with elevations ranging from 500 to 2,000 feet above sea level.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping land is ideal as it minimizes installation costs and maximizes exposure to sunlight throughout the day. Given this criteria, the flatter areas along the Susquehanna River could be suitable for solar PV installations.
However, other factors would also need to be considered including local climate (amount of sunshine), land use restrictions (e.g., zoning laws), potential environmental impacts (e.g., on wildlife or habitats) and proximity to power transmission lines.
It's also important to note that while Pennsylvania does have some sunny days throughout the year, its climate may not be as conducive for solar energy production compared to states like Arizona or California which have more consistent sunshine year-round. Therefore an in-depth feasibility study would be required before proceeding with any large-scale solar project in this region.
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: Thursday 14th 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.
