Fairview, Utah, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers varying potential for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. This location experiences significant seasonal fluctuations in solar energy production that are important to consider when planning a solar installation.

Seasonal Solar Production

Solar panels in Fairview produce their highest output during summer months, generating approximately 7.79kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows as the second most productive season with 6.70kWh/day per kW. Production drops considerably in autumn to 4.42kWh/day, while winter sees the lowest output at just 2.68kWh/day per kW installed.

This pattern creates a more than threefold difference between peak summer production and the winter low point, which is typical for locations in the Northern Temperate Zone with distinct seasons.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Fairview, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 34 degrees facing South. This angle has been calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation patterns at this specific latitude, weighted according to the location's solar potential throughout the year.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several factors could potentially impact solar production in Fairview:

• Winter snowfall can temporarily cover panels, reducing or halting production until the snow melts or is removed
• Dust accumulation from the semi-arid environment may gradually decrease panel efficiency
• Occasional summer thunderstorms with hail could potentially damage panels
• Temperature extremes between seasons may affect panel efficiency, as PV panels typically lose efficiency at very high temperatures

Preventative Measures

To maximize solar production in Fairview despite these challenges, consider these preventative measures:

• Install panels at a steeper angle than the optimal 34 degrees if winter production is particularly important, as this helps snow slide off more easily
• Implement a regular cleaning schedule to remove dust accumulation, especially during dry periods
• Choose solar panels with high hail impact ratings appropriate for the region
• Consider panels with better temperature coefficients to minimize efficiency losses during hot summer days
• Install a monitoring system to quickly identify any production issues related to environmental factors

With proper installation and maintenance accounting for these local conditions, Fairview can be a good location for solar PV, particularly taking advantage of the excellent production potential during spring and summer months.

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 Fairview, Utah

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.6262, Longitude: -111.4467 (Fairview, Utah, 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 34° South in Fairview, Utah, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Fairview, Utah, United States (Lat/Long 39.6262, -111.4467) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 34° 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 Fairview, Utah, 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 Fairview, Utah, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 34° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
23° South in Summer	44° South in Autumn	54° South in Winter	32° 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 Fairview, Utah, 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 Fairview, Utah, 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 Fairview, Utah, United States

Fairview, Utah, nestled in Sanpete County, sits within a distinctive topographical setting characterized by varied terrain that influences its climate and potential for renewable energy development. The town is positioned in a valley at approximately 6,000 feet above sea level, with the Wasatch Plateau rising dramatically to the east. This plateau extends north-south and reaches elevations exceeding 10,000 feet, creating a significant natural barrier that affects local weather patterns. To the west of Fairview lies the Sanpete Valley, a relatively flat agricultural area that gradually transitions into rolling hills and eventually meets the San Pitch Mountains. This valley floor, with its open expanses and minimal shading from geographical features, presents favorable conditions for solar energy collection. The overall landscape around Fairview features a mixture of agricultural lands, sagebrush-covered hills, scrub oak, and coniferous forests at higher elevations.

Optimal Areas for Solar PV Development

The western portions of Sanpete Valley offer the most promising locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. These areas benefit from several advantageous characteristics. First, the relatively flat terrain minimizes construction challenges and reduces costs associated with land preparation. Second, the valley's orientation provides excellent solar exposure throughout the day, particularly important for maximizing energy production. Areas southwest of Fairview, extending toward Gunnison, feature expansive tracts of land with minimal development and favorable gradients for solar array placement. These locations typically have well-drained soils suitable for supporting the necessary infrastructure while experiencing minimal flooding risk. Additionally, these western valley sections experience less shadowing effect from the Wasatch Plateau than locations closer to the eastern mountains.

Topographical Considerations

The elevation gradient around Fairview creates microclimates that affect solar potential. Higher elevation areas, while receiving intense solar radiation due to thinner atmosphere, often face practical challenges including difficult access, steeper slopes, and winter snow accumulation that would complicate maintenance and reduce efficiency of solar installations. The valley floor, ranging from approximately 5,500 to 6,200 feet in elevation, strikes an optimal balance between solar exposure and practical considerations. These areas generally maintain clear skies with minimal fog or low cloud cover that might otherwise reduce solar efficiency. It's worth noting that the region experiences seasonal variations in precipitation, with summer monsoon patterns occasionally bringing afternoon cloud development. However, these patterns are typically predictable and don't significantly diminish the overall solar potential of the region. The western valley areas tend to receive less precipitation than the eastern mountainous regions, further enhancing their suitability for solar development.

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

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.