Hermiston, Oregon is a moderately good location for year-round solar energy generation, though it experiences significant seasonal variation typical of the Northern Temperate Zone. The location produces its highest solar output during summer months at 7.80 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, while winter production drops considerably to just 1.59 kWh per day per kW.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy production at this location follows a clear seasonal pattern. Spring delivers strong performance at 6.30 kWh per day per kW, making it the second-best season for solar generation. Autumn production moderates to 3.37 kWh per day per kW, while winter represents the challenging period with the lowest output. For optimal year-round energy capture, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 38 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual production by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year and the varying solar irradiance levels.

Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several local factors in Hermiston can impact solar energy production and should be considered during installation:

• Dust and agricultural particles: The area's agricultural activity and dry climate can lead to dust accumulation on panels
• Winter weather conditions: Snow coverage and frequent overcast skies during winter months
• Wind exposure: The open terrain can subject panels to strong winds
• Temperature fluctuations: Extreme temperature variations between seasons can affect panel efficiency

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize solar production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective. Regular cleaning systems or easy-access panel designs help combat dust accumulation from agricultural activities. Panels should be mounted at sufficient angles to promote natural snow shedding, while robust mounting systems must withstand the area's wind conditions. Installing panels with adequate ventilation spacing helps manage temperature-related efficiency losses. Additionally, choosing high-quality panels rated for temperature variations ensures consistent performance across Hermiston's seasonal extremes. Overall, while Hermiston presents some environmental challenges for solar installation, proper planning and installation techniques can effectively mitigate these issues and maintain good energy production throughout most of the year.

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 Hermiston

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 45.8486, Longitude: -119.2848 (Hermiston, 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 38° South in Hermiston, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Hermiston, United States (Lat/Long 45.8486, -119.2848) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 38° 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 Hermiston, 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 Hermiston, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 38° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
29° South in Summer	49° South in Autumn	60° South in Winter	38° 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 Hermiston, 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 Hermiston, United States.

Our calculation method

1. Solar Position:
   We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination.
2. Shadow Projection:
   We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle.
3. 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 Hermiston, United States

Topography Around Hermiston, Oregon

Hermiston sits in the Columbia River Plateau region of northeastern Oregon, positioned within the broad Umatilla River valley. The surrounding landscape is characterized by gently rolling hills and expansive flat agricultural plains that extend in multiple directions from the city. The terrain slopes gradually downward toward the Columbia River to the north, creating a natural drainage pattern that has shaped the region's agricultural development over decades.

The immediate area around Hermiston features relatively modest elevation changes, with the city itself positioned at approximately 620 feet above sea level. To the south and east, the land rises gradually into higher plateau areas, while the northern sections trend downward toward the Columbia River corridor. This gentle topographic variation creates excellent sight lines across vast distances, with minimal obstruction from steep terrain or dense vegetation.

The region's geology consists primarily of basalt bedrock covered by layers of wind-deposited loess soils, creating stable foundation conditions across most of the area. The landscape is predominantly open, with scattered agricultural buildings, irrigation infrastructure, and utility corridors being the primary vertical features interrupting the expansive views.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The flat to gently sloping agricultural lands extending south and southeast of Hermiston present the most favorable conditions for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. These areas offer extensive tracts of relatively level ground with minimal shading concerns and excellent southern exposure potential. The gradual southward slope of much of this terrain naturally optimizes solar panel positioning for maximum energy capture throughout the day.

The plateau areas to the east of the city also demonstrate strong suitability for solar development, particularly where the terrain remains relatively flat and unobstructed. These locations benefit from stable soil conditions and minimal topographic interference while maintaining good accessibility for construction and maintenance activities.

Areas closer to existing electrical transmission infrastructure, particularly those near the major power lines that traverse the region, would offer additional advantages for solar development by reducing interconnection costs and complexity. The region's established utility corridors provide natural pathways for integrating new renewable energy facilities into the broader electrical grid.

The northern sections trending toward the Columbia River, while potentially suitable from a topographic perspective, may face more complex development considerations due to proximity to the river corridor and associated environmental considerations. However, the southern and eastern plateau areas offer abundant opportunities for large-scale solar installations across thousands of acres of suitable terrain.

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

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.