Laveen, Arizona, located in the Northern Sub Tropics, is an excellent location for year-round solar energy generation. The area experiences consistently high solar energy production throughout most of the year, making it one of the more favorable locations in the United States for solar photovoltaic installations.

Seasonal Solar Production

The solar energy output varies significantly by season at this location. Spring delivers the highest production at 7.98 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, closely followed by summer at 7.88 kWh per day. These two seasons represent the optimal times for solar generation, providing nearly double the energy output compared to winter months. Autumn production drops to 5.37 kWh per day per kW, while winter shows the lowest output at 4.02 kWh per day per kW. Despite this winter decrease, the production levels remain reasonable compared to many other regions, demonstrating the location's year-round viability for solar energy.

Optimal Panel Installation

For maximum year-round energy production at Laveen, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 29 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize total annual solar output by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year and weighting the angles based on solar irradiance data.

Environmental and Weather Factors

Several local factors in the Laveen area can potentially impact solar energy production, though most can be effectively managed with proper installation techniques:

• Dust and Sand Accumulation: The desert environment means frequent dust storms and airborne particles that settle on solar panels, reducing their efficiency
• Extreme Heat: While abundant sunshine is beneficial, excessive heat can actually decrease solar panel efficiency
• Monsoon Season: Summer monsoons can bring sudden intense storms with heavy rain, hail, and strong winds
• UV Degradation: The intense desert sun can accelerate wear on solar panel materials over time

Preventative Measures

To maximize energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies should be considered. Regular cleaning schedules are essential, ideally using automated cleaning systems or scheduling manual cleaning every few weeks during dusty periods. Installing panels with proper ventilation underneath helps manage heat buildup and maintains efficiency. Choosing high-quality panels rated for extreme temperatures and UV resistance is crucial in this environment. Proper mounting systems designed to withstand high winds and potential hail damage should be used, along with appropriate electrical surge protection for monsoon season storms. Monitoring systems can help identify when panels need cleaning or maintenance, ensuring optimal performance year-round. With these precautions in place, Laveen's excellent solar resource can be fully utilized for reliable renewable energy generation.

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 Laveen

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.3628, Longitude: -112.1693 (Laveen, 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 29° South in Laveen, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Laveen, United States (Lat/Long 33.3628, -112.1693) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 29° 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 Laveen, 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 Laveen, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 29° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
17° South in Summer	38° South in Autumn	48° South in Winter	26° 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 Laveen, 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 Laveen, 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 Laveen, United States

Topographical Features of Laveen

Laveen sits in the heart of the Sonoran Desert within the Salt River Valley, positioned at an elevation of approximately 1,100 feet above sea level. The area is characterized by relatively flat terrain with gentle, rolling hills that gradually rise toward the surrounding mountain ranges. This desert community lies southwest of downtown Phoenix and occupies part of what geographers call the Phoenix Basin, a broad valley floor that was formed by ancient geological processes and sediment deposition from the Salt River system. The immediate landscape around Laveen consists primarily of desert flatlands punctuated by occasional low ridges and washes that carry seasonal water runoff. These natural drainage channels, known locally as arroyos, create subtle undulations in an otherwise level terrain. The soil composition is typical of the Sonoran Desert, featuring a mixture of sandy and rocky desert pavement with scattered desert vegetation including saguaro cacti, palo verde trees, and various shrubs adapted to arid conditions.

Mountain Ranges and Elevation Changes

Several prominent mountain ranges frame the Laveen area, creating a dramatic backdrop against the desert floor. To the west, the Sierra Estrella Mountains rise significantly from the valley floor, with peaks reaching over 4,000 feet in elevation. These mountains create a natural western boundary for the Phoenix metropolitan area and influence local weather patterns and drainage systems. The South Mountains lie to the north and northeast of Laveen, forming another substantial topographical feature that defines the local landscape. These mountains, while not as tall as the Sierra Estrellas, still provide considerable relief from the valley floor and create microclimatic conditions that affect wind patterns and temperature variations throughout the region.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The expansive flat areas immediately surrounding Laveen present excellent opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The most promising locations lie on the broad desert plains that extend westward toward the Sierra Estrella Mountains and southward toward the Gila River Indian Community boundaries. These areas offer vast stretches of relatively level ground with minimal topographical obstacles that could interfere with solar panel placement or create shading issues. The desert floor southwest of Laveen contains particularly suitable terrain, where the land remains consistently flat for miles with only minor elevation changes. This region benefits from minimal existing development and offers the space necessary for utility-scale solar farms. The sparse vegetation typical of this desert environment means fewer environmental obstacles for development, while the stable geological conditions provide solid foundations for solar infrastructure. Areas along the western edges of the Salt River Valley, extending toward the foothills of the Sierra Estrella Mountains, also present favorable conditions. These locations maintain the flat characteristics essential for solar development while being positioned to take advantage of excellent solar exposure throughout the day. The gradual elevation changes in these areas are gentle enough not to create significant engineering challenges while providing natural drainage for the occasional desert rainfall. The open spaces north of the Gila River and east of the Sierra Estrella range offer additional prime real estate for solar development. These areas combine the necessary flat topography with proximity to existing electrical transmission infrastructure, making them particularly attractive for large-scale renewable energy projects. The desert pavement in these locations provides naturally stable ground conditions that can support extensive solar installations without requiring significant site preparation or grading work.

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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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.