Friend Solar Power Information & Peak Sun Hours
Solar Green Energy Summary for Friend, Nebraska
Lattitude: 40.6505
Sunlight
Fixed Tilt Sunlight Hours: 4.9 hours per day
1-Axis Tilt Sunlight Hours: 6.1 hours per day
2-Axis Tilt Sunlight Hours: 7.2 hours per day
When trying to calculate your solar power needs there are a variety of factors to consider. Panel type and location, electricity needs, number of panels needed etc. One key to figuring out the math is factoring in the average peak sunlight hours in a day. Unlike total sunlight hours, peak sunlight hours are only when the sun is strong enough to power your solar panel. Using this number can help determine your needs to power your home or business in Friend, Nebraska.
Sunlight hits the earth directly at the equator. This is why the equator has a latitude of zero degrees. The latitude of Friend is 40.7. Knowing the latitude of Friend can help you plan for your solar panel setup, as the larger the latitude the more variance you will see throughout the year for total daily sunlight hours.
Since a fixed solar panel is set in one position it is ideal to place it at an angle that will expose the panel to the most sunlight throughout the year. This angle is generally the same angle of your latitude which is 40.7 for Friend. You do not need to strategically place a 1-axis or 2-axis panel as much as you do a fixed panel. A 1-axis panel follows the movement of the sun during the day. Additionally, a 2-axis panel also adjusts for the suns various positions in the sky throughout the year.
There are more variables than latitude that can change average peak sun hours. Weather patterns and geography will influence solar insolation that reaches your system. Thick grey storm clouds for example will block out a lot of the sun to the point where there may be no peak sun hours in the middle of the day when the sun is usually very powerful. Trees and mountains can deflect the sunlight, so be sure your solar panel is selectively placed.
The average daily peak sunlight hours in Friend, Nebraska is 4.9 hours. Use this number when trying to calculate your solar needs in Friend. As you can see above, if you were to use a 1-Axis or 2-Axis panel then the daily average would increase to 6.1 hour and 7.2 hours, respectively.