Solar PV Analysis of Goodyear, United States
Goodyear, Arizona is a pretty good spot for solar energy production throughout the year. This area gets a lot of sunlight, especially in the summer and spring where you can expect around 7.87kWh/day and 7.98kWh/day per kW of installed solar respectively. Autumn and winter produce slightly less energy - around 5.42kWh/day and 4.09kWh/day respectively - but it's still quite decent.
If you're setting up fixed solar panels here, tilting them at an angle of 29 degrees facing south would give you the best overall performance throughout the year.
Now let's talk about things that might interfere with your solar power generation in Goodyear, Arizona:
Arizona is known for its dust storms (also called haboobs), particularly during monsoon season which runs from June to September. These storms can cover panels with dust or sand reducing their efficiency significantly.
Preventative measures against this include installing automated cleaning systems that wash off the dust regularly or manually cleaning them periodically especially after such storms.
Also, while sunny days are great for generating electricity via solar panels, extreme heat can actually decrease their efficiency - something to consider as temperatures often soar above 100°F (38°C) in Goodyear during summer months.
To counteract this effect, ensure there's good ventilation around your panels when installing them to help keep temperatures down; some higher-end models also come with built-in cooling systems which could be worth considering if budget allows.
Lastly remember that any shade falling on your panels will affect their output so make sure they're not being overshadowed by nearby buildings or vegetation at any time of day/year – planning tools are available online to help map out sun paths specific to your location.
In conclusion: While there are certain challenges associated with using solar power in Goodyear due mainly to weather conditions like heat and dust storms – these issues can be managed with good installation practices and regular maintenance, making it a viable option for renewable energy in this area.
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 Goodyear
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.4294, Longitude: -112.3896 (Goodyear, 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 29° South in Goodyear, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Goodyear, United States (Lat/Long 33.4294, -112.3896) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 29° 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 Goodyear, 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 Goodyear, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 29° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17° South in Summer | 38° South in Autumn | 48° South in Winter | 26° 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 Goodyear, 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 Goodyear, 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 Goodyear, United States
Goodyear is located in the state of Arizona, United States. The topography around Goodyear consists mostly of flat and arid desert land with some mountains. It's part of the Sonoran Desert region which is known for its high levels of sunlight year-round.
The areas most suited for large-scale solar PV would be the expansive flatlands or desert areas nearby that have minimal obstructions to sunlight such as tall buildings or trees. These include regions to the west and south-west of Goodyear where there are vast expanses of relatively uninhabited land.
Arizona has a significant number of sunny days per year, making it an ideal location for solar energy production. In fact, Arizona ranks among the top states in America for solar energy potential due to its climate and geography.
However, any decision on establishing large-scale solar PV would also need to take into account factors like access to transmission lines, proximity to roads for maintenance purposes, environmental impact assessments and local zoning laws etc.
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: Monday 13th 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.
