Burlington, Washington, United States is a location with significant seasonal variations in solar energy production potential. Located in the Northern Temperate Zone at approximately 48.4776° N, 122.3445° W, this area experiences strong contrasts between summer and winter solar generation capabilities.

Seasonal Solar Production

The solar energy production at this location shows dramatic seasonal differences. Summer is by far the most productive period, with panels generating about 7.11 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows as the second-most productive season with 5.24 kWh/day per kW installed.

By contrast, autumn yields much less energy at 2.36 kWh/day, while winter production drops to its lowest point at just 1.29 kWh/day per kW installed. This creates a ratio of more than 5:1 between the best and worst seasons for solar generation.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Burlington, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 40 degrees facing South. This angle has been calculated based on the specific latitude of the location, weighted by the seasonal solar irradiance patterns.

Environmental and Weather Factors

Several significant local factors could impede solar production in Burlington:

• The Pacific Northwest region experiences frequent cloud cover and rainfall, particularly during fall and winter months, which explains the dramatically lower production figures during these seasons.
• Burlington's northern latitude means shorter winter days contribute to the seasonal production disparity.
• The area can experience occasional snow and ice accumulation in winter, which may temporarily cover panels.
• Marine influences from nearby Puget Sound can create morning fog conditions.

Preventative Measures

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges:

• Install panels with the recommended 40-degree tilt to optimize year-round production.
• Consider snow-shedding mounting systems that facilitate natural clearing of snow.
• Implement regular cleaning maintenance, especially during pollen seasons and after winter weather events.
• Use high-efficiency panels that perform better in low-light and diffuse light conditions common in the Pacific Northwest.
• Consider microinverters or power optimizers to minimize the impact of partial shading from clouds or nearby trees.

While Burlington is not an ideal location for solar production compared to sunnier regions, proper system design and installation can still yield worthwhile energy generation, particularly during the highly productive summer and spring 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 Burlington, Washington

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 48.4776, Longitude: -122.3445 (Burlington, Washington, 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 40° South in Burlington, Washington, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Burlington, Washington, United States (Lat/Long 48.4776, -122.3445) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 40° 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 Burlington, Washington, 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 Burlington, Washington, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 40° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
32° South in Summer	51° South in Autumn	62° South in Winter	40° 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 Burlington, Washington, 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 Burlington, Washington, 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 Burlington, Washington, United States

Burlington, Washington is situated in the Skagit Valley, a broad, fertile plain that forms part of the larger Puget Sound lowland region in the northwestern United States. The topography around Burlington is characterized by a relatively flat valley floor surrounded by more dramatic terrain features. The city itself sits at an elevation of approximately 30 feet (9 meters) above sea level, with the surrounding landscape offering a mix of agricultural plains and distant mountains. To the east of Burlington rise the impressive Cascade Mountains, with peaks that reach several thousand feet in elevation. This mountain range creates a significant rain shadow effect for the region. To the west lies Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, with its various bays and islands. The Skagit River flows through the valley, having carved this lowland area over millennia before emptying into Puget Sound.

Solar PV Potential in the Burlington Region

When considering areas near Burlington for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, several factors must be evaluated, including topography, land use, and solar exposure. The flat agricultural lands of the Skagit Valley surrounding Burlington offer some advantages for solar development, including ease of construction and minimal shading issues. However, these areas also present competing land uses, as they constitute some of the most productive agricultural soils in Washington State. The most suitable locations for large-scale solar PV near Burlington would likely be: The eastern edges of the valley where the land begins to rise toward the Cascades present promising opportunities. These slightly elevated areas typically experience less fog than the valley floor and may have less productive agricultural value. Areas east of Interstate 5, particularly where the terrain begins to gain elevation but before becoming too steep or heavily forested, could offer good solar exposure while minimizing conflicts with prime farmland. Some of the lower foothills and benchlands that surround the valley might provide ideal locations. These areas often have good southern exposure and avoid the morning fog that can linger in the valley bottom during certain seasons. Brownfield sites, former industrial areas, or other previously developed lands within the broader Skagit County area could be repurposed for solar energy production, minimizing new environmental impacts while making productive use of already disturbed landscapes. The western portions of the region, closer to Puget Sound, tend to experience more marine influence with potentially more cloud cover and fog, which might reduce their suitability for solar development compared to areas slightly further inland. It's worth noting that the region experiences a climate influenced by both maritime and continental patterns. While western Washington is known for its cloudy winters, the area east of Burlington benefits somewhat from the Cascade rain shadow effect, resulting in clearer conditions than areas directly on the coast. Summer months bring considerably more sunshine to the entire region, with long daylight periods due to the northern latitude.

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.