Davis, West Virginia shows significant seasonal variation in solar energy production, making it a moderately suitable location for solar PV installations rather than an ideal one. The location experiences its highest energy generation during summer months and faces considerable challenges during winter.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at Davis varies dramatically throughout the year. Summer provides the best conditions with 6.26 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it the prime season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best period with 5.24 kWh per day per kW, offering strong solar production as daylight hours increase and weather improves. Autumn sees a notable decline to 3.58 kWh per day per kW as the sun angle decreases and weather patterns change. Winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 1.96 kWh per day per kW, representing less than one-third of summer production levels. For maximum year-round energy production, solar panels at this location should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 33 degrees facing south. This angle optimizes the total annual solar collection by accounting for the sun's path throughout all seasons.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in Davis, West Virginia can significantly impact solar energy generation:

• Heavy snow accumulation during winter months that can cover panels and block sunlight
• Frequent cloud cover and overcast conditions, particularly during autumn and winter
• Mountain terrain and forested areas that may create shading issues depending on installation site
• High humidity levels that can reduce solar panel efficiency
• Potential for ice formation on panels during winter freeze-thaw cycles

Preventative Measures for Better Solar Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies should be considered. Panels should be mounted with adequate spacing from trees and buildings to minimize shading throughout the day and across seasons. The steep 33-degree tilt angle actually helps with snow shedding, but installing panels with smooth surfaces and considering heating elements for critical applications can further reduce snow accumulation. Choosing high-quality panels with anti-reflective coatings can help maintain efficiency during cloudy conditions. Regular maintenance schedules should include cleaning panels and removing debris, particularly important given the forested environment. Installing micro-inverters or power optimizers can help minimize the impact when individual panels are partially shaded or snow-covered. Proper drainage around panel installations prevents water pooling and ice formation. Battery storage systems become particularly valuable at this location to store excess energy from high-production summer and spring months for use during the lower-production winter period.

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 Davis, West Virginia

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.1287, Longitude: -79.4648 (Davis, West Virginia, 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 33° South in Davis, West Virginia, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Davis, West Virginia, United States (Lat/Long 39.1287, -79.4648) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 33° 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 Davis, West Virginia, 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 Davis, West Virginia, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 33° 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	43° 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 Davis, West Virginia, 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 Davis, West Virginia, 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 Davis, West Virginia, United States

Topographical Features Around Davis

Davis sits nestled in the mountainous terrain of West Virginia's Tucker County, positioned within the Allegheny Mountains at an elevation of approximately 3,100 feet above sea level. The surrounding landscape is characterized by rolling hills, steep ridges, and narrow valleys that define this part of Appalachia. The town itself occupies a relatively flat area compared to the dramatic elevation changes found throughout the immediate region. The topography around Davis features a complex network of ridgelines running primarily in a northeast-southwest direction, which is typical of the Appalachian fold-and-thrust belt geology. These ridges often rise several hundred feet above the valley floors, creating a series of peaks and hollows that can significantly impact solar exposure depending on orientation and elevation. The terrain includes both forested mountainsides and cleared areas, with some agricultural land and open meadows scattered throughout the valleys. Steep slopes are common throughout the region, with many hillsides exceeding 20-degree inclines. However, there are also areas of gentler terrain, particularly along ridge tops and in some of the broader valley bottoms. The elevation varies considerably within a relatively small geographic area, with some nearby peaks reaching over 4,000 feet while valley floors may sit 1,000 feet or more below the surrounding ridgelines.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most promising locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations around Davis would be the cleared ridgetop areas and south-facing slopes with moderate gradients. These elevated positions typically receive better solar exposure throughout the day and are less likely to experience shading from adjacent terrain features. Ridge tops also tend to have fewer trees and existing structures that could create obstacles for solar panel placement. South-facing slopes with gradients between 10 and 30 degrees could be particularly well-suited for solar development, as they naturally orient panels toward the sun while providing adequate drainage and accessibility. Some of the agricultural areas in the broader valleys might also present opportunities, especially those with southern exposure and minimal surrounding tree cover. Areas to avoid for large-scale solar development would include the steep north-facing slopes, heavily forested areas, and narrow valley bottoms that may experience significant shading from surrounding ridges during portions of the day. The region's numerous hollows and ravines would generally be unsuitable due to limited solar exposure and challenging terrain for construction and maintenance access. Transportation access would be another important consideration, as many of the most topographically suitable sites may be located in remote areas with limited road infrastructure. The most viable locations would likely be those that combine favorable topography with reasonable access for construction equipment and ongoing maintenance operations.

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.