Solar PV Analysis of Agoura, United States
Agoura, California is a pretty good spot for generating solar energy throughout the year due to its location in the Northern Sub Tropics. The amount of electricity that can be generated from solar panels varies by season, with Summer and Spring being the most productive periods. In summer, you can expect about 8.42 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. This drops slightly to 7.54 kWh/day in Spring.
Autumn sees a further reduction to around 5.40 kWh/day, while Winter is the least productive period with an average output of only about 3.82 kWh/day per kW of installed solar panels.
To get the most out of your solar panel installation in Agoura throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle facing South by about 30 degrees.
Now let's talk about some local factors that could potentially impact your ability to generate power from your solar installation in Agoura:
1) Weather: Although California generally enjoys plenty of sunshine which makes it ideal for harnessing solar energy, there are times when weather conditions like overcast skies or fog could reduce sunlight exposure on your panels hence reducing their output.
2) Dust and Debris: Dust accumulation or falling leaves on your panel surface can impede sunlight penetration and therefore reduce power generation efficiency.
Preventative measures against these factors include:
1) Regular Cleaning: Regularly cleaning off dust and debris from the surface ensures maximum exposure to sunlight.
2) Proper Installation: Ensuring professional installers correctly position and angle your system will help maximize sun exposure all year round.
Overall though, given its geographical location within a sunny climate zone coupled with appropriate preventative measures such as regular maintenance and optimal installation practices; Agoura presents a reasonably favorable environment for generating substantial amounts of electricity via Solar PV systems across different seasons annually.
Note: The Northern Sub Tropics extend from 23.5° latitude North up to 35° 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 Agoura
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 34.1189, Longitude: -118.7539 (Agoura, 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 30° South in Agoura, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Agoura, United States (Lat/Long 34.1189, -118.7539) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 30° 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 Agoura, 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 Agoura, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 30° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18° South in Summer | 39° South in Autumn | 49° South in Winter | 27° 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 Agoura, 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 Agoura, United States.
Our calculation method
- Solar Position:
We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination. - Shadow Projection:
We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle. - 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 Agoura, United States
Agoura, located in the United States (with coordinates 34.1189 latitude and -118.7539 longitude), is situated in California's Santa Monica Mountains region. The topography of this area is characterized by hilly terrains, valleys, and mountainous landscapes with significant vegetation.
The suitability of an area for largescale solar PV depends on several factors including sunlight availability, land availability and use, proximity to transmission lines, environmental considerations among others. Given Agoura's location within a mountainous region with significant vegetation cover, it may not be the most suitable location for large-scale solar PV installations.
However, nearby areas that are relatively flat and less vegetated would be more appropriate for such installations. These could include portions of Ventura County to the west or Antelope Valley to the north-east which have flatter terrains and receive ample sunlight throughout the year making them potentially suitable locations for large-scale solar PV projects.
Furthermore, considering California’s ambitious renewable energy goals along with its abundant sunshine makes many parts of Southern California well-suited to largescale solar PV implementation subject to detailed site-specific assessments.
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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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Thursday 6th of June 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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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.
