Solar PV Analysis of Granada Hills, United States
Granada Hills, California is a pretty good place for producing solar energy year-round. The amount of electricity you can generate from solar panels depends on the season. You'll get the most power in summer, when you can expect about 8.42 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. Autumn and spring produce less energy but are still quite productive with about 5.40 kWh/day and 7.54 kWh/day respectively per kW of installed solar. Winter will give you the least power at around 3.82 kWh/day per kW.
For best results throughout the year, your solar panels should be tilted at an angle of 30 degrees facing south if they are fixed installations.
As far as local conditions that might affect your solar production, Granada Hills has generally sunny weather which is great for generating solar power; however there may be some factors to consider:
1) Dust and dirt: Over time dust and dirt could accumulate on your panels which could reduce their efficiency by blocking sunlight.
Prevention: Regular cleaning will ensure that your panels work efficiently.
2) Shade: Buildings or trees nearby might cast shadows on your panel during certain times of the day or year.
Prevention: Try to install your panels in a location where they'll receive maximum sunlight throughout all seasons.
3) High temperatures: Although it's sunny, extreme heat can actually decrease panel efficiency.
Prevention: Ensuring adequate ventilation around back side of PV modules helps keep them cool thus maintaining performance levels.
Overall though, these issues aren't significant enough to make Granada Hills a bad choice for installing solar PV system - it's still an excellent location due its high sunshine hours especially during summer months when sun is strongest.
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 Granada Hills
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 34.2773, Longitude: -118.5001 (Granada Hills, 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 Granada Hills, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Granada Hills, United States (Lat/Long 34.2773, -118.5001) 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 Granada Hills, 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 Granada Hills, 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 | 39° South in Autumn | 49° 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 Granada Hills, 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 Granada Hills, 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 Granada Hills, United States
Granada Hills is located in the northern part of Los Angeles, California. The topography of Granada Hills is characterized by hilly terrain and valleys as it lies within the Santa Susana Mountains to the north and west, with Porter Ranch to its northwest, Northridge to its south, Mission Hills and Sylmar to its east.
The area has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters which makes it suitable for solar PV installations. However, due to its hilly terrain, flat areas would be more suitable for large-scale solar PV installations.
Areas nearby that could potentially be suited for large-scale solar PV would include flatter regions or those with less shade obstruction from hills or other structures. These might include parts of San Fernando Valley such as Northridge or Pacoima which are relatively flat compared to Granada Hills.
Additionally, considering land use aspects - non-residential areas like industrial zones or commercial districts could also be potential sites for larger scale installations without disrupting residential communities.
Lastly, any decision on specific locations should also take into account factors like local zoning regulations and grid connectivity considerations.
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.
