Solar Power in Seattle and the NorthWest

Surprisingly, Residential Solar Power and Commercial and Business Solar Power are both viable and cost effective in the Seattle area and particularly so throughout the Northwest. Although the higher latitudes of the Northwest receive fewer annual hours of sunlight than more southern regions, solar panels operate with greater efficiency in cooler climates, making Seattle and the Northwest an excellent place for solar electric power. Our region additionally has long summer days with many months of a high level of solar radiation. Even though Seattle and Northwest winters are often overcast, solar radiation penetrates the clouds and power can be generated on most cloudy days.

Over half — 55% — of the world's solar panels are installed in Germany, whose latitude is comparable to Seattle in the south and southeast Alaska in the north. Additionally, Germany is expecting to be 100% green in its national energy production by 2010. Although it has a reputation for being frequently overcast, Seattle and the Northwest receive more than enough sunlight to meet its energy needs. While the region’s highest solar power generating potential is in southeastern Oregon and southern Idaho, there are no “bad” solar sites — even the rainiest sites receive almost half as much solar energy as the deserts of California, and the Northwest receives more solar energy than Germany, a world leader in solar-powered electricity generation.