Solar PV Analysis of McKinleyville, United States
McKinleyville, California is a decent location for year-round solar energy production, although it's not the most ideal. The amount of electricity you can generate from solar panels varies throughout the year due to changes in sunlight intensity and duration.
In simple terms, during summer and spring, your solar panels will produce a good amount of electricity - around 6.67 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in summer and 6.37 kWh/day in spring for each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power. These are the best times to generate solar power at this location because there's more sunlight available.
However, during autumn and winter when days are shorter and sunlight is less intense, your panels won't produce as much - only about 3.87 kWh/day in autumn and even less at 2.28 kWh/day in winter per kW of installed power.
To get the most out of your solar panels all year round at this location, they should be fixed at an angle facing south by about 35 degrees from horizontal level. This positioning allows them to catch as much sunlight as possible throughout different seasons.
As for local factors that could affect your panel's performance: McKinleyville experiences foggy conditions due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean which might reduce sun exposure on some days; however it also enjoys many clear sunny days over the course of a year so overall impact would likely be minimal but still worth considering when planning installation.
To help ensure greater energy production despite these potential issues: consider installing systems that track sun movement across sky or use advanced inverters which can mitigate effects caused by shading or cloud cover; regular cleaning/maintenance will also keep them working efficiently.
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 McKinleyville
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 40.9468, Longitude: -124.0802 (McKinleyville, 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 35° South in McKinleyville, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in McKinleyville, United States (Lat/Long 40.9468, -124.0802) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 35° 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 McKinleyville, 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 McKinleyville, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 35° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25° South in Summer | 45° South in Autumn | 55° South in Winter | 33° 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 McKinleyville, 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 McKinleyville, 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 McKinleyville, United States
McKinleyville is located in the northern part of California, United States. The topography of this area is characterized by a mix of flatlands and hilly terrains with lush greenery. It lies near the Pacific coast which means it often experiences marine influence, including foggy conditions.
The areas best suited for large-scale solar PV installations would be the flatter regions that receive high amounts of sunlight throughout the year. However, considering McKinleyville's coastal location and frequent foggy conditions, its potential for solar energy generation might not be as high as other parts of California such as Central Valley or Southern California which have more consistent sun exposure.
Nevertheless, there could still be potential for smaller scale residential or commercial solar installations in McKinleyville itself. For larger scale operations nearby regions like Redding or Chico might offer better climatic conditions with more consistent sun exposure and less marine layer interference.
Also important to consider would be factors such as availability of land (for ground-mounted systems), proximity to power transmission lines and infrastructure, local regulations regarding renewable energy projects etc., before deciding on a location for large-scale solar PV installation.
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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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Thursday 28th of March 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.
