Solar PV Analysis of Cottonwood, United States
Cottonwood, California, located in the Northern Temperate Zone of the United States, is a pretty good location for generating solar energy year-round. The amount of electricity that can be generated from solar panels changes with each season due to varying amounts of sunlight and weather conditions.
During summer and spring, you can expect to generate quite a bit of power - about 8.22 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in summer and 7.31 kWh/day in spring for every kilowatt (kW) of installed solar panels. This means that these seasons are great times for producing solar energy because they have longer days with more direct sunlight.
However, during autumn and winter, the output decreases significantly due to shorter days and less intense sunlight - down to 4.20 kWh/day in autumn and only 2.47 kWh/day in winter per kW installed.
To get the most out of your solar panels throughout the year at this location, it's best to tilt them at an angle facing south by 34 degrees from horizontal. This angle helps capture maximum sunlight over the course of a year as it takes into account how high or low the sun will be in different seasons.
As for local factors that could affect power generation: Cottonwood experiences hot summers which might decrease panel efficiency slightly since extreme heat can make them less efficient; however this is unlikely to significantly impact production overall given high levels of sunshine during these months which offsets any minor reduction in efficiency caused by heat stress on panels.
Another factor could be dust or debris covering your panels; regular cleaning would help maintain their performance though especially after windy conditions when dust may accumulate faster than normal on their surface.
Lastly considering potential shading issues such as buildings or trees blocking sun from reaching your panels is important when installing them; careful positioning away from obstructions maximizes exposure to sun ensuring higher power output throughout all seasons.
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 Cottonwood
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 40.3727, Longitude: -122.3287 (Cottonwood, 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 34° South in Cottonwood, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Cottonwood, United States (Lat/Long 40.3727, -122.3287) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 34° 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 Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 34° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24° South in Summer | 44° South in Autumn | 54° South in Winter | 32° 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 Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood, United States
Cottonwood, United States (in California) is located in a region characterized by flat plains and gentle rolling hills. The area has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters which makes it suitable for solar power generation.
For large-scale solar PV installations, the most suitable nearby areas would be the flat plains around Cottonwood. These areas are ideal as they provide ample space for installation of solar panels and have good sun exposure throughout the year. Additionally, these locations are likely to have fewer obstructions such as trees or buildings that could potentially block sunlight.
Nevertheless, while geographic suitability is important for large-scale solar PV installations, other factors such as grid connectivity infrastructure availability, land use regulations and environmental considerations must also be taken into account when planning such projects.
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 21st of May 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.
