Solar PV Analysis of Manhattan Beach, United States
The location at Manhattan Beach, California, is quite good for generating energy via solar PV all year round. This is due to its position in the Northern Sub Tropics which gets a lot of sunlight throughout the year.
In terms of ideal times to generate solar power at this location, summer and spring are the best seasons. In summer you can expect around 7.11kWh/day per kW of installed solar and in spring about 6.84kWh/day per kW. Autumn and winter see less sunlight so output drops to around 4.85kWh/day and 3.72kWh/day respectively.
If you're installing fixed panel solar PVs here, it's best to tilt them towards the South at an angle of about 30 degrees for maximum production throughout the year.
Despite these positives, there might be some local factors that could affect your solar production such as foggy or cloudy weather which is common along California's coastlines including Manhattan Beach area; also high winds may cause dust accumulation on panels reducing their efficiency over time.
To counteract these issues:
1) Regular cleaning will help keep panels clear from any dust or debris.
2) Installations should be made away from shady areas where possible.
3) Using high quality panels with good performance even under diffused light conditions (like when it's cloudy or foggy).
So overall, while there might be some challenges due to weather conditions like fog or wind causing dust build-up on your panels; with regular maintenance and smart installation choices you can still generate a significant amount of electricity from your Solar PV system in Manhattan Beach all year round!
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 Manhattan Beach
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.8899, Longitude: -118.4008 (Manhattan Beach, 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 Manhattan Beach, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Manhattan Beach, United States (Lat/Long 33.8899, -118.4008) 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 Manhattan Beach, 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 Manhattan Beach, 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 | 38° 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 Manhattan Beach, 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 Manhattan Beach, 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 Manhattan Beach, United States
Manhattan Beach, located in Los Angeles County, California, is characterized by a flat terrain with gentle slopes towards the Pacific Ocean. The city itself is largely urbanized with residential and commercial buildings.
As for large-scale solar PV installations, these require relatively large areas of land which are unshaded and have good sun exposure. Given Manhattan Beach's urban nature and limited open space availability, it might not be the most suitable place for such projects.
However, there are several nearby areas that could potentially accommodate large-scale solar PV projects:
1. Mojave Desert: This vast desert area to the northeast of Los Angeles County has long hours of sunshine throughout the year and plenty of undeveloped land – making it ideal for solar energy production.
2. Antelope Valley: Located in northern Los Angeles County and western Kern County, this valley has already seen numerous large-scale solar power installations thanks to its abundant sunlight and available land.
3. Inland Empire: This metropolitan area east of Los Angeles also presents opportunities for large scale solar installations due to its sizeable amount of unused land coupled with high sun exposure.
4. Rooftops across LA county: While not a single location per se, rooftops across LA county can be used as sites for smaller but collectively significant photovoltaic installation.
It should be noted that any proposed project would need to take into account various factors including environmental impact assessments (particularly relevant in desert areas), grid connectivity issues as well as local regulations related to renewable energy projects.
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: Saturday 29th 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.
