Solar PV Analysis of Dallas, West Virginia, United States
Dallas, West Virginia is a decent location for generating energy through solar PV, but it's not perfect. The amount of electricity you can produce from solar power changes with the seasons. In summer, you can expect to generate about 6.29 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. This drops to 3.66 kWh/day in autumn and even further to just 2 kWh/day in winter before rising again to 5.4 kWh/day in spring.
To get the most out of your solar panels year-round at this location, they should be tilted at an angle of 34 degrees facing south. This will maximize the total amount of sunlight they catch over the course of a year.
However, there are some factors that could affect how much electricity you're able to generate from your solar panels in Dallas, WV. Weather is one potential issue – if it's often cloudy or foggy where you live, less sunlight will reach your panels and they'll produce less electricity as a result.
Local environmental conditions might also play a role - trees or other structures that cast shadows on your panels can reduce their output significantly by blocking sunlight during parts of the day.
In order to help ensure greater energy production despite these challenges:
1) Consider trimming back any trees or relocating any structures that cast shadows on your panel installation site.
2) Regularly clean and maintain your system so it operates efficiently regardless of weather conditions.
3) Use high-quality equipment designed to withstand harsh weather elements such as wind or snow storms which are typical for West Virginia.
4) If possible consider installing trackers which enable PV modules follow sun path throughout daytime hours increasing exposure time and hence more generation capacity when compared with fixed panel installations.
Remember though that while these steps may help improve performance under challenging conditions; ultimately the effectiveness of generating power through Solar PV depends largely on the location's exposure to sunlight throughout the year.
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 Dallas, West Virginia
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.9781, Longitude: -80.5549 (Dallas, 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 34° South in Dallas, West Virginia, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Dallas, West Virginia, United States (Lat/Long 39.9781, -80.5549) 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 Dallas, 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 Dallas, West Virginia, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24° South in Summer | 44° South in Autumn | 55° South in Winter | 33° 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 Dallas, 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 Dallas, West Virginia, 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 Dallas, West Virginia, United States
The topography around Dallas, United States (located at latitude 39.9781 and longitude -80.5549) is characterized by gently rolling hills and valleys typical of the Appalachian Plateau region. This area, situated in southwestern Pennsylvania near the West Virginia border, features a landscape that has been shaped by millions of years of erosion.
The terrain is generally undulating, with elevations ranging from about 900 to 1,300 feet above sea level. You'll find a mix of open fields, wooded areas, and small streams cutting through the landscape. The hills are not particularly steep or dramatic, but they do provide some variation in the topography.
As for areas nearby that would be most suited to large-scale solar PV (photovoltaic) installations, there are a few factors to consider. Ideal locations for solar farms typically include:
- Relatively flat or gently sloping land
- Open areas with minimal shading from trees or structures
- Good access to existing power infrastructure
- Areas that are not prime agricultural land or ecologically sensitive
Given these criteria, the most suitable areas for large-scale solar PV near Dallas would likely be found on the plateaus or broader hilltops in the region. These areas often provide more expansive, open spaces that receive consistent sunlight throughout the day. Former agricultural lands or reclaimed mining sites could also be potential candidates for solar development, as they often meet the necessary criteria and may have fewer competing land-use interests.
It's important to note that while the rolling terrain can present some challenges for solar installations, modern solar panel technologies and mounting systems can adapt to slight slopes and uneven ground. Therefore, many areas in the vicinity of Dallas could potentially be suitable for solar PV projects, provided they meet other important criteria such as proximity to power lines and appropriate zoning regulations.
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: Wednesday 10th 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.
