Salida Solar Power Information & Peak Sun Hours

Solar Green Energy Summary for Salida, Colorado

Lattitude: 38.5303

Sunlight

Fixed Tilt Sunlight Hours: 6.2 hours per day

1-Axis Tilt Sunlight Hours: 8.3 hours per day

2-Axis Tilt Sunlight Hours: 8.5 hours per day

It goes without saying that throughout the year the amount of sunlight in any given day is going to vary. The time of year and weather will have a strong influence on daily sunshine. Looking at the average amount of peak sunshine hours in a day during an entire year stretch is a valuable exercise when trying to determine the amount and type of solar panels you need to install to power your business or your home. 6.2 peak sun hours means that in Salida on average there are 6.2 hours a day where the sun is strong enough for solar panels to harness its energy. This number is less than the amount of total sunlight hours in a day because there are times during the day (ex. sunrise and sunset) where the sun is not strong enough to benefit solar panels.

Knowing that the latitude of Salida is 38.5 can be helpful for understanding total sunlight hour variance. As you approach the equator latitude approaches zero. The closer the latitude is to zero, the more consistent the daily sunlight hours are throughout the year. Total sunlight hour consistency simply makes planning for your solar power needs easier, but it is certainly not a requirement.

They type of solar panel you use has an affect on the average peak sunlight hours. Some panels allow for movement, so they can track the sun as it rises in the east and sets in the west, or as the seasons change and the sun's path changes. A fixed panel remains fixed and does not have the ability to rotate, whereas a 1-axis and 2-axis panel can adjust with the sun.

Weather is one of the major culprits that will cause inconsistent total peak sun hours for any given day. The sunrise and sunset will always be predictable every day, but the weather is hard to predict and cloud coverage can greatly diminish the efficiency of a solar power system on any given day. On the bright side, a location that is known to have cloudy weather a majority of the year could have unexpectedly more sunny days, so it can go both ways.

In Salida the average yearly peak sun hours for a fixed tilt non-tracking solar panel mount is 6.2. This is for a fixed panel mounted at an angle that is equal to the latitude of the location for the entire year. The amount of peak sun hours increases to 8.3 hours if you are using a 1-axis panel, and to 8.5 hours if you upgrade to a 2-axis solar panel.


Solar Businesses in Salida, Colorado

Salida, CO
(719) 539-6918
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845 Oak St
Salida, CO 81201
(866) 252-6785
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Salida, CO 81201
(719) 539-6000
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