Solar PV Analysis of Grass Valley, United States
Grass Valley, California is a pretty good place for solar energy production throughout the year. The amount of electricity you can get from your solar panels changes with the seasons. In summer and spring, you'll get quite a bit - around 8.48 kilowatt-hours per day in summer and 7.40 in spring for every kilowatt of solar panel capacity installed. This means that during these times, your panels will be working really well to generate power.
However, in autumn and winter, this drops down to 4.50 and 2.61 kWh/day respectively per kW of installed solar capacity; so you'll still be generating power but not as much as in brighter months.
To make sure you're getting the most out of your panels all year round at this location, it's best to tilt them at an angle facing south by 33 degrees - that way they'll catch more sunlight over the course of each day across all seasons.
As for local factors that could impact your solar output: Grass Valley has a Mediterranean climate which means hot summers (great for producing lots of energy) but also heavy rainfall during winters which might reduce how much sunlight reaches your panels on those days or even risk damage if precautions are not taken when installing them.
One preventative measure would be ensuring proper installation to withstand potential harsh weather conditions such as heavy rain or snowfall – this includes secure mounting systems and using durable materials resistant against weathering effects over time.
Also consider regular maintenance checks especially after severe weather events just to ensure everything is working properly without any damages impeding their efficiency.
Lastly, like many places in California there's always some risk from wildfires which could cause smoke haze reducing incoming sunlight or worse damaging equipment directly; so having appropriate fire safety measures implemented around the property where panels are installed would also be advisable.
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 3033 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 Grass Valley
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.119, Longitude: -121.0935 (Grass Valley, 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 33° South in Grass Valley, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Grass Valley, United States (Lat/Long 39.119, -121.0935) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 33° 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 Grass Valley, 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 Grass Valley, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 33° 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 | 43° South in Autumn | 53° 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 Grass Valley, 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 Grass Valley, 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 Grass Valley, United States
Grass Valley is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California. The topography is characterized by rolling hills, forests, and small streams. It has an elevation ranging from 2,500 feet to well over 3,000 feet above sea level with a mix of coniferous forests and grasslands.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping areas are typically preferred as they require less site preparation work and can accommodate more panels per acre. Considering this factor along with the need for ample sunlight exposure throughout the year, open grasslands or cleared areas would be most suitable around Grass Valley for such projects.
However, it's important to note that while the region does receive a fair amount of sunshine annually (around 265 days), there can be considerable snowfall during winters which could affect solar panel efficiency unless managed properly.
Also worth noting is that any large-scale development would have to take into account local regulations regarding land use and environmental protection given the presence of forested areas nearby. It would also need to consider potential impacts on local wildlife habitats and water sources due to construction activities.
In terms of specific locations within proximity to Grass Valley that might be suited for solar PV installation:
1) Areas towards Penn Valley or Rough & Ready where terrain tends to be flatter.
2) South towards Auburn along Highway 49 where there are larger expanses of open space.
3) East towards Colfax where elevation decreases slightly leading potentially more sun exposure.
Remember though each location will still require detailed assessment including factors like soil type/stability, accessibility/infrastructure availability etc., beyond just topography/sunshine availability before deciding on suitability for large scale Solar PV installations.
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: Thursday 30th of May 2024
Last Updated: Wednesday 26th of June 2024
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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.
