Solar PV Analysis of La Habra, United States
La Habra, California is a pretty good location for generating energy with solar panels year-round. This is because it's located in the Northern Sub Tropics where there's a lot of sunlight throughout the year.
In terms of how much electricity you can expect to generate from each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power, it varies by season. In the summer and spring, you can get quite a bit - around 7.85 kilowatt-hours per day (kWh/day) in Summer and 7.07 kWh/day in Spring for each kW installed. These are great times to generate solar energy because the days are longer and sunnier.
In Autumn and Winter, your output drops off somewhat due to shorter daylight hours and less intense sunlight - about 5.26 kWh/day in Autumn and 3.88 kWh/day in Winter per kW installed.
To maximize your total yearly production from these panels, they should be tilted at an angle of 30 degrees facing South if they're fixed installations.
As far as potential issues that might affect your solar energy production go, La Habra does have some environmental factors to consider:
- Weather: While generally sunny, La Habra does experience occasional rain showers which could temporarily reduce panel efficiency.
- Dust & Debris: Over time dust or other debris may accumulate on the panels reducing their effectiveness.
Preventative measures include regular cleaning schedule for your panels would help ensure maximum efficiency by keeping them free from dust or debris buildup.
Also having a system set up so that even during rainy weather as much light as possible still reaches the panels could also be beneficial; this might involve using specially designed glass coverings that allow light through but keep rain off the actual panel surface.
So overall, while there are some minor challenges associated with generating solar power in La Habra due to seasonal changes and local weather conditions these can be managed effectively with appropriate preventative measures.
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 La Habra
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.93, Longitude: -117.9477 (La Habra, 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 La Habra, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in La Habra, United States (Lat/Long 33.93, -117.9477) 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 La Habra, 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 La Habra, 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 | 48° 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 La Habra, 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 La Habra, 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 La Habra, United States
La Habra, located in Orange County, California, is characterized by a mixture of flatlands and hilly areas. The city itself is situated on relatively flat terrain with an average elevation of around 300 feet above sea level. However, it is surrounded by several small hills and mountain ranges including the Puente Hills to the north and east.
As for solar PV potential, Southern California has one of the highest potentials for solar power generation in the United States due to its abundant sunshine year-round. Flat regions within or near La Habra would be most suitable for large-scale solar PV installations as they provide ample space and sunlight exposure.
However, it's important to note that while topography plays a significant role in determining suitability for solar PV installations, other factors such as local zoning laws, environmental considerations (like proximity to protected lands or species), access to transmission lines and grid infrastructure also need consideration.
Additionally, rooftop solar may also be a viable option within urbanized areas like La Habra given California's strong incentives and policies promoting renewable energy development.
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: Wednesday 1st 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.
