Solar PV Analysis of Hood River, United States
Hood River, Oregon is a decent location for year-round solar energy production, but it's not the best. The amount of electricity you can get from solar panels depends on how much sun they get. In Hood River, the sunlight varies greatly throughout the year.
During summer and spring, there's plenty of sunlight - producing around 7.76kWh/day and 6.31kWh/day per kilowatt of installed solar respectively. These are great times to generate solar power because long daylight hours mean more sun hitting your panels.
However, in autumn and winter, things aren't as good with only 3.37kWh/day and 1.66kWh/day being produced per kilowatt during these seasons respectively due to shorter days and less intense sunlight.
To make sure you're getting as much power as possible all year round from your panels at this location, they should be tilted at an angle of 38 degrees facing southwards.
There could be some local factors that might affect how well you can produce solar energy in Hood River though such as weather conditions including heavy snowfall or rain which can cover panels reducing their effectiveness or even damaging them over time if not properly managed.
In order to prevent this from happening it would be wise to install systems that allow for easy cleaning/brushing off of any accumulated snow or debris on your panels ensuring they're always working at maximum efficiency no matter what Mother Nature throws at them!
Also consider installing durable high-quality PV modules designed to withstand harsh weather conditions like hail storms which are common in Oregon during certain months every year; these may cost more initially but will save money in the long run by avoiding costly repairs/replacements due to storm damage.
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 Hood River
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 45.6728, Longitude: -121.5398 (Hood River, 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 Hood River, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Hood River, United States (Lat/Long 45.6728, -121.5398) 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 Hood River, 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 Hood River, 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 Hood River, 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 Hood River, 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 Hood River, United States
Hood River is located in the Columbia River Gorge in northern Oregon, United States. The topography around Hood River is diverse, characterized by rugged mountains of the Cascade Range to the south, rolling hills and plateaus to the north and east, and a deep river valley formed by the Columbia River.
The area has a mix of forested areas on higher elevations and agricultural lands in flatter regions. Mt. Hood is nearby which contributes significantly to this varied landscape.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping terrains are often preferred because they require less site preparation (which can be costly) and allow for easier installation and maintenance of solar panels. Therefore, considering local topography alone, the flatter areas around Hood River could potentially be suitable for such installations.
However it's important to note that topography isn't everything when considering suitability for solar power - factors like local climate conditions (sunlight hours), land use restrictions (e.g., protected lands or agricultural zones), proximity to existing power infrastructure (for ease of connecting generated electricity into grid), etc., also need to be taken into account.
In terms of sunlight availability specifically: while Oregon isn't as sunny as desert states like Arizona or Nevada that are known for their large-scale solar farms, it still receives enough sunlight throughout year that makes solar energy viable option. In fact there are already several operational utility-scale solar projects within state.
Lastly remember that any potential site would need careful environmental impact assessments before proceeding with development - this is especially true given region's ecological significance with its forests, rivers & wildlife habitats.
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: Friday 7th 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.
