Solar PV Analysis of Davis, United States
Based on the information given, Davis, California is a decent location for solar energy production throughout the year. The amount of electricity that can be generated from solar panels varies with each season. In simpler terms, this means that in summer and spring, you can expect to generate more electricity compared to autumn and winter.
Specifically, during summer months when days are longer and sunnier, you could potentially produce about 8.49 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. Springtime also offers good production rates at about 7.50 kWh/day per kW installed.
On the other hand, in autumn and winter when days are shorter with less sunlight available due to cloud cover or foggy conditions typical for this region during these seasons; your output drops to around 4.66 kWh/day per kW installed in autumn and even lower down to approximately 2.82 kWh/day per kW installed in winter.
For optimal results year-round at this location specifically, it's recommended to tilt your solar panels at an angle of 32 degrees facing southwards towards the equator where they will receive maximum exposure from sunlight over the course of a day.
As far as local factors which may affect solar production here: Davis is located within a Mediterranean climate zone characterized by hot dry summers and cool wet winters which could influence seasonal outputs as mentioned earlier. Additionally there might be potential issues like dust accumulation on panels reducing their efficiency or shading caused by nearby buildings or trees blocking direct sunlight especially during low sun angles in morning or evening hours or certain times in winter months.
To counter these factors ensuring better energy production; regular cleaning maintenance schedule should be implemented to keep dust off your panels while careful site surveying before installation would help identify any potential shading issues allowing them either being avoided altogether by choosing different install location if possible or mitigated through design considerations such as installing tracking systems that allow panels to move and follow the sun's path during the day for maximum exposure.
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 Davis
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 38.5442, Longitude: -121.7252 (Davis, 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 32° South in Davis, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Davis, United States (Lat/Long 38.5442, -121.7252) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 32° 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 Davis, 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 Davis, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 32° 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 | 52° 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 Davis, 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 Davis, 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 Davis, United States
Davis, United States is located in the Central Valley of California. The topography around Davis is relatively flat and low-lying due to its location within the valley. This area is surrounded by coastal mountain ranges to the west and east.
The climate in Davis is Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters which makes it suitable for solar PV installations. The vast stretches of flat land also make it ideal for large-scale solar PV projects.
Areas most suited for large-scale solar PV near Davis would be unused agricultural lands or other open spaces that have a lot of sun exposure throughout the year. These could include areas towards Sacramento or further into the Central Valley where there are expansive tracts of relatively undeveloped land.
However, any development would need to consider local environmental impacts as well as any land use regulations or restrictions. For example, some parts of the Central Valley are important habitats for wildlife or are used extensively for agriculture.
Additionally, proximity to existing power infrastructure (like substations) should be considered since it can significantly impact costs associated with transmitting electricity from solar farms back into the grid.
Overall though, given its sunny climate and availability of flat land space, areas around Davis could potentially be very suitable for large-scale solar PV developments.
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!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Tuesday 30th of April 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
Tell Us About Your Work
We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.
Feeling generous?
Share this with your friends!
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.
