Marina del Rey, California, United States represents a very good location for year-round solar photovoltaic energy generation. Located in the Northern Sub Tropics at coordinates 33.9779, -118.4525, this coastal area benefits from Southern California's abundant sunshine and favorable climate conditions.

Seasonal Solar Production Performance

The solar energy output at Marina del Rey shows strong seasonal variation, with summer being the peak production period. During summer months, solar panels generate an impressive 7.12 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. Spring follows as the second-best season with 6.82 kWh per day per kW, making both spring and summer the ideal times for solar energy generation at this location. Autumn production drops to 4.79 kWh per day per kW, while winter shows the lowest output at 3.65 kWh per day per kW. Despite this winter reduction, the location still maintains reasonable solar production throughout the year, making it suitable for consistent renewable energy generation.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For fixed panel installations at Marina del Rey, the ideal angle to tilt solar panels is 30 degrees facing South to maximize total year-round production. This angle is calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles at this latitude, determining optimal panel tilt for each day, and weighting these angles by daily photovoltaic potential using solar irradiance data while accounting for Earth's elliptical orbit.

Environmental and Weather Challenges

Marina del Rey's coastal location presents several significant factors that can impede solar production:

• Marine Layer and Fog: The Pacific Ocean creates frequent morning marine layer conditions and coastal fog, particularly during late spring and early summer months, which can reduce solar irradiance during morning hours
• Salt Air Corrosion: The proximity to the ocean means constant exposure to salt-laden air, which can corrode solar panel frames, mounting hardware, and electrical connections over time
• High Humidity: Coastal humidity can lead to moisture accumulation and potential electrical issues if not properly managed

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

To ensure greater energy production despite these coastal challenges, several preventative measures should be implemented: Corrosion Protection: Use marine-grade aluminum frames and stainless steel mounting hardware specifically designed for coastal environments. Apply anti-corrosion coatings to all metal components and ensure all electrical connections use marine-grade sealing compounds. Enhanced Cleaning Schedule: Implement more frequent cleaning protocols to remove salt deposits and moisture that can accumulate on panel surfaces. The marine environment requires more aggressive maintenance than inland locations. Proper Ventilation Design: Install panels with adequate spacing beneath to promote air circulation, helping to reduce moisture buildup and maintain optimal operating temperatures in the humid coastal environment. Quality Electrical Components: Use weatherproof electrical enclosures rated for marine environments and ensure all wiring uses appropriate moisture barriers and corrosion-resistant materials. Despite these challenges, Marina del Rey remains an excellent location for solar energy production when proper installation techniques and maintenance protocols are followed.

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 Marina Del Rey

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.9779, Longitude: -118.4525 (Marina Del Rey, 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 Marina Del Rey, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Marina Del Rey, United States (Lat/Long 33.9779, -118.4525) 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 Marina Del Rey, 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 Marina Del Rey, 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 Marina Del Rey, 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 Marina Del Rey, 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 Marina Del Rey, United States

Topographical Features of Marina del Rey

Marina del Rey sits on remarkably flat coastal terrain in Los Angeles County, California. The area occupies what was historically part of the Ballona Wetlands, positioned at virtually sea level with minimal elevation changes throughout the immediate vicinity. This artificial marina development rests on reclaimed marshland, creating an exceptionally level landscape that extends inland for several miles before encountering any significant topographical variation. The region's flatness extends eastward toward the Los Angeles basin, where gentle slopes gradually rise toward the Santa Monica Mountains to the north and the Palos Verdes Peninsula to the south. The coastal plain maintains consistent elevation below 100 feet above sea level for considerable distances in all directions except directly west, where the Pacific Ocean forms the natural boundary.

Surrounding Terrain Characteristics

Moving inland from Marina del Rey, the topography remains predominantly flat through Venice, Culver City, and much of western Los Angeles. The Ballona Creek runs through this area, creating a slight depression in the otherwise level terrain, but the overall gradient remains minimal. Further east, the land begins a gradual ascent toward the Hollywood Hills and downtown Los Angeles, though this rise occurs over many miles and remains relatively gentle. To the north, the Santa Monica Mountains create a more dramatic topographical feature, rising sharply from the coastal plain to peaks exceeding 3,000 feet. However, the foothills of these mountains begin several miles inland from Marina del Rey, leaving substantial flat areas between the coast and the steeper terrain. The Palos Verdes Peninsula to the south presents rolling hills and bluffs that rise directly from the coastline, but these elevated areas are separated from Marina del Rey by the flat expanse of El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, and other coastal communities.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The expansive flat terrain surrounding Marina del Rey creates numerous opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The most promising areas lie inland where land costs may be more reasonable while still maintaining the favorable topographical conditions. The broad coastal plain extending through El Segundo, Hawthorne, and parts of Torrance offers substantial acreage with minimal grading requirements. Industrial zones in these inland areas present particularly attractive opportunities, as they often contain large, underutilized parcels with existing electrical infrastructure. The flat topography eliminates concerns about optimal panel orientation on sloped terrain and minimizes the complexity and cost of installation across large areas. Areas near Los Angeles International Airport, while subject to aviation restrictions in some zones, contain significant flat industrial land that could accommodate solar development where regulations permit. The consistent elevation and lack of shading from topographical features make these locations technically well-suited for solar installations. Moving further inland toward the San Fernando Valley, additional flat areas become available, though these locations are more distant from coastal load centers. The Sepulveda Basin and surrounding areas maintain the flat characteristics favorable for solar development while offering potentially larger contiguous parcels. The key advantage of this entire region lies in its remarkably consistent topography, which allows for standardized installation techniques across large areas and minimizes the site preparation costs typically associated with more varied 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.