Solar PV Analysis of Downey, United States
Based on the provided data, Downey, California is a good place for solar energy production throughout the year due to its location in the Northern Sub Tropics. The amount of electricity that can be generated from solar varies with each season. The summer months produce the most electricity at 7.11kWh per day for every kW of installed solar power. This is followed by spring with 6.84kWh/day, then autumn with 4.85kWh/day and finally winter producing the least at 3.72 kWh/day.
Despite these variations, it's clear that there are ample opportunities to generate substantial amounts of energy year-round using solar panels in this area - especially during summer and spring when sunlight hours are longer.
For optimal results from your solar installation in Downey, it's recommended that panels should be tilted at an angle of 30 degrees facing south to maximize total annual production.
However, there might be some local factors that could potentially hinder your solar output such as weather conditions or environmental issues like pollution or dust accumulation on panels which could reduce their efficiency over time.
Weather-wise, although California generally enjoys sunny weather most days of the year; occasional rainstorms or foggy conditions may temporarily decrease your system’s performance due to reduced sunlight exposure.
To combat these potential challenges:
1) Regular cleaning and maintenance can help keep your panels free from dust and debris.
2) A professional installer will know how best to position your system so as not to be blocked by trees or buildings.
3) Installing a battery storage system may also help store excess power generated during peak sun hours for use during less sunny periods or outages caused by extreme weather events.
In summary: While there are minor challenges associated with any form of renewable energy generation; overall Downey CA provides a favorable environment for generating significant amounts of clean renewable energy via Solar PV systems throughout most parts of the year - particularly if they're installed correctly and maintained well.
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 Downey
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.9212, Longitude: -118.1424 (Downey, 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 Downey, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Downey, United States (Lat/Long 33.9212, -118.1424) 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 Downey, 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 Downey, 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 | 38° South in Autumn | 48° 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 Downey, 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 Downey, 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 Downey, United States
Downey is located in the southeastern part of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The topography of Downey and its surrounding areas is relatively flat due to its location in the Los Angeles Basin. It has a Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild winters which makes it suitable for solar PV installations.
The most suited areas nearby for largescale solar PV would be open spaces with little to no shade from trees or buildings. This could include large commercial rooftops, parking lots, unused land parcels or brownfields (previously developed land that's not currently in use).
Given the urbanized nature of Downey and surrounding areas like Norwalk, Bellflower, Pico Rivera etc., large-scale ground-mounted solar farms may not be feasible unless there are large tracts of undeveloped land available. However, rooftop solar panels on commercial buildings or residential homes would be very effective given the region's abundant sunshine.
Also worth considering are locations towards east such as Riverside County which has more open space available for larger scale ground-mounted solar farms.
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: Sunday 9th 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.
