Solar PV Analysis of Lakewood, Colorado, United States
Lakewood, Colorado is a decent location for year-round solar energy production, but it's not perfect. The amount of electricity that can be generated from solar panels varies throughout the year. In the summer and spring, you can expect to generate more electricity (7.11 kWh/day per kW of installed solar in the summer and 6.02kWh/day in the spring), while in autumn and winter, you'll produce less (4.56 kWh/day in autumn and 3.24 kWh/day in winter).
Therefore, installing your solar panels before summer or spring would be ideal as these seasons provide more sunlight hours resulting in higher energy production.
For optimal performance all year round at this location, it's best to tilt your solar panels at an angle of 35 degrees towards the south; this will help maximize their exposure to sunlight over the course of a day.
As for local factors that could affect your solar panel efficiency: Lakewood does experience snowfall which could cover up your panels reducing their effectiveness significantly during such periods due to blocked sunlight. To counteract this effect, you might want to consider investing in automated panel-cleaning systems or regularly clean off any snow manually.
Additionally, Colorado has been known for its hail storms which could potentially damage unprotected solar panels; hence considering protective measures like sturdy mounting structures or hail-resistant panel materials might be beneficial during installation phase.
In summary: While Lakewood isn't perfect due to seasonal variations and potential weather disruptions like snowfall or hailstorms - with careful planning around installation timing & preventive measures against possible weather hazards - it still provides reasonable opportunity for harnessing substantial amounts of sun power across different times of 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 Lakewood, Colorado
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.6664, Longitude: -105.0882 (Lakewood, Colorado, 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 Lakewood, Colorado, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Lakewood, Colorado, United States (Lat/Long 39.6664, -105.0882) 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 Lakewood, Colorado, 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 Lakewood, Colorado, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23° South in Summer | 44° South in Autumn | 54° 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 Lakewood, Colorado, 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 Lakewood, Colorado, 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 Lakewood, Colorado, United States
Lakewood is located in the state of Colorado, United States. The topography around Lakewood is diverse, with a mix of flat and hilly terrain. It's situated at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, which means it has an elevation that ranges from 5,280 feet to 7,000 feet above sea level. Towards the west are mountainous terrains while towards east it becomes progressively flatter leading into plains.
As for areas suited for large-scale solar PV installations:
1) Flat regions to the East of Lakewood would be ideal as they provide ample space and sunlight for large scale solar PV installations.
2) Also considering Colorado's "300 days of sunshine" per year claim, this makes many parts around Lakewood suitable for solar power generation.
3) Locations with less tree cover or shadow casting structures will be more suitable as well.
4) Large commercial or industrial rooftops within Lakewood city can also be potential sites for installing solar panels.
5) Unused lands near transportation infrastructure like highways could also serve as potential locations given their minimal shading and ease-of-access advantages.
However, any decision on where to place a large-scale solar installation should consider not just topography but also factors like local zoning laws and regulations, proximity to power transmission lines (to feed generated electricity into grid), environmental impact assessments etc.
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 July 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.
