Huntington, Utah, United States offers a moderately good location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variation that affects overall efficiency.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this Northern Temperate Zone location shows strong seasonal patterns. Summer produces the highest electricity generation at 7.88 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the peak season for solar production. Spring follows as the second-best season with 6.92 kWh per day per kW, providing excellent energy generation during the transitional months. Autumn performance drops to 4.55 kWh per day per kW, representing a moderate production period. Winter shows the lowest output at 3.00 kWh per day per kW, which is typical for northern temperate locations but still provides meaningful energy generation throughout the coldest months.

Optimal Installation Setup

For maximum year-round energy production at this location, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 34 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize total annual solar output by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year and weighting for daily solar potential.

Local Environmental Challenges

Several environmental factors in Huntington, Utah can significantly impact solar energy production:

• Snow accumulation: Winter snowfall can completely block solar panels, eliminating energy production until snow melts or is removed
• Dust and particulate matter: Utah's arid climate and occasional dust storms can coat panels, reducing efficiency
• High altitude UV exposure: While beneficial for solar production, intense UV radiation can degrade panel materials faster
• Temperature extremes: Both hot summers and cold winters can affect panel efficiency and component longevity

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective. Installing panels at the recommended 34-degree tilt helps snow slide off naturally rather than accumulating. Adding a smooth panel surface coating can further encourage snow shedding and make cleaning easier. Regular maintenance scheduling becomes crucial, with monthly cleaning recommended during dusty periods and after storms. Installing monitoring systems allows for quick identification of performance drops due to soiling or snow coverage. Using high-quality mounting hardware rated for temperature extremes ensures system longevity. Adequate ventilation spacing behind panels helps manage heat buildup during summer months, maintaining optimal efficiency. Consider installing panels with anti-reflective coatings and robust frame materials designed to withstand UV exposure over decades. These measures help maintain consistent energy production throughout the system's lifespan in Utah's challenging but generally favorable solar environment.

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 Huntington, Utah

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.3266, Longitude: -110.9642 (Huntington, 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 Huntington, Utah, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Huntington, Utah, United States (Lat/Long 39.3266, -110.9642) 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 Huntington, 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 Huntington, 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 Huntington, 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 Huntington, 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 Huntington, Utah, United States

Topography Around Huntington, Utah

The terrain surrounding Huntington, Utah presents a diverse landscape characteristic of the Colorado Plateau region. This small community sits in a valley setting within Emery County, positioned between significant topographical features that define the local geography. The area is dominated by high desert terrain, with elevations that create distinct zones of varying suitability for different land uses. To the west of Huntington, the Wasatch Plateau rises dramatically, creating a mountainous backdrop with forested slopes and higher elevations. This western boundary features steep terrain that transitions from valley floor to mountain slopes relatively quickly. The plateau's presence influences local weather patterns and creates natural boundaries for development. Moving eastward from the community, the landscape gradually transitions into more open terrain characteristic of the Book Cliffs region. This eastern area features rolling hills, mesas, and relatively flat expanses that extend toward the Colorado border. The topography here is generally less dramatic than the western mountains, with gentler slopes and broader valley systems. The immediate vicinity around Huntington itself sits in agricultural valley land, with the Huntington Creek flowing through the area and creating fertile bottomland. This valley setting provides relatively flat terrain that has historically supported farming and ranching activities. The creek system has carved out a natural corridor through the landscape, creating both opportunities and constraints for land development.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most promising locations for substantial solar installations would be found in the eastern portions of the region, where the terrain opens up into the broader mesa and plateau country. These areas offer several advantages including relatively flat or gently sloping surfaces that minimize grading requirements and construction complexity. The eastern zones also feature stable geological conditions with bedrock relatively close to the surface, providing solid foundations for large solar arrays. The mesa tops and broad terraces in this eastern region present ideal characteristics for utility-scale solar development. These elevated flat areas typically have good drainage, reducing concerns about water accumulation during storm events. The stable surfaces require minimal site preparation compared to steeper or more irregular terrain found elsewhere in the region. Areas south and southeast of Huntington also show promise for solar development, where the topography transitions into high desert plateaus with expansive flat sections. These locations benefit from being positioned away from the immediate agricultural valley while still maintaining reasonable access to existing infrastructure networks. The western mountainous areas would be less suitable for large-scale solar installations due to steep slopes, forested conditions, and challenging access requirements. Similarly, the immediate valley floor around Huntington, while relatively flat, is primarily dedicated to agricultural use and residential development, making it less available for utility-scale energy projects. The ideal solar development zones would be located on the stable mesa surfaces and plateau areas extending eastward from the community, where the combination of suitable topography, geological stability, and land availability creates optimal conditions for large-scale renewable energy installations.

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.