Idaho Sunlight Hours & Renewable Energy Information
Quick Green Energy Summary for Idaho
Sunlight
State Sunlight Rank: 17/50
Average Annual Sunlight Hours: 2900 hours
Clear Days: 120 days per year
Summer Peak Sun Hours: 5.83 hours per day
Winter Peak Sun Hours: 3.33 hours per day
Average Peak Sun Hours : 4.92 hours per day
Wind
State Wind Rank : 27/50
Average Annual Wind Speed: 0.05 miles per hour
More Information on Idaho Green Energy
Idaho is a wonderful state that ranks in the top twenty for average amount of peak sun hours amongst states in the US. Idaho is known for its amazing environment and natural beauty. Mountains, lakes, forests, and great cities. So finding an alternative source of electricity to keep the environment clean is a huge priority for many residents of this beautiful state. The city of Boise is building a huge solar farm to add to the competitive solar power industry in Idaho.
Net metering is limited in Idaho, but a solar power system would eventually pay for itself over a few years. Idaho is not an overly populated state, so with the proper government funding and private interests, Idaho could be on its way to become of the greenest states in the country.
A fixed tilt solar panel does not change angles to adjust with the sun, so looking at the average peak sun hours using a fixed tilt panel can set a good baseline for calculations. On average, the state of Idaho receives 4.92 daily peak sun hours.
This number obviously changes if you were to drill down and examine the peak sunlight hours on a daily basis because of the number of factors that can affect a solar panels ability. Natural factors, such as cloud coverage, weather, time of year and much more all impact the daily sun light hours and amount of solar insolation. Not every hour of sunlight will be converted at the same efficiency ratio, so it can help to look at the average when planning for your year.