Solar PV Analysis of Citrus Heights, United States
Citrus Heights, California is a pretty good place for solar energy production year-round. The amount of electricity you can expect from each kilowatt of installed solar panels varies by season. In the summer, you'll get about 8.49 kilowatt-hours per day, which is quite high. Spring also offers good production with about 7.5 kilowatt-hours per day.
However, in autumn and winter, the output drops significantly to around 4.66 and 2.82 kilowatt-hours per day respectively due to fewer daylight hours and lower sun position in the sky during those seasons.
Therefore, if you're considering installing solar panels in Citrus Heights, it would be most beneficial to do so before spring or summer when production will be at its peak.
For best results with a fixed panel installation at this location, tilt your panels 33 degrees towards the south to maximize total year-round production from your solar system.
As for environmental or weather factors that could hinder solar production here - Citrus Heights is generally sunny but does experience some rainy days especially during winter months which could potentially reduce solar panel efficiency on those days. Also keep in mind that dust or debris on your panels can block sunlight too; regular cleaning can help maintain optimal performance.
In addition to these considerations there's also potential shading issues from nearby trees or buildings that could obstruct sunlight reaching your panels throughout parts of the day/year; taking time to assess placement beforehand will help mitigate this issue as much as possible.
Lastly remember that while Citrus Heights doesn't typically experience extreme weather conditions like hurricanes or tornadoes which could damage your system; it's still important to make sure any installation is secure against less severe but more common wind gusts just as precautionary measure for maintaining long-term productivity levels.
Note: The Northern Temperate Zone extends from 35° latitude North up to 66.5° 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 Citrus Heights
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 38.6975, Longitude: -121.2714 (Citrus Heights, 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 33° South in Citrus Heights, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Citrus Heights, United States (Lat/Long 38.6975, -121.2714) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 33° 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 Citrus Heights, 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 Citrus Heights, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 33° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22° South in Summer | 42° South in Autumn | 53° South in Winter | 31° 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 Citrus Heights, 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 Citrus Heights, 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 Citrus Heights, United States
Citrus Heights is located in the Sacramento Valley of California, United States. The topography of this region is generally flat with some low-lying hills. It has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
Given its relatively flat terrain and high sunshine index (Sacramento area gets an average of 269 sunny days per year), large open areas around Citrus Heights would be well-suited for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. This includes farmland or other undeveloped land in the surrounding Sacramento County.
However, specific suitability would depend on factors like land availability, zoning regulations, proximity to power grids for transmission etc. Therefore a detailed feasibility study considering these factors would be necessary to identify specific locations best suited for large-scale solar PV installations.
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: Tuesday 19th of March 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.
