Solar PV Analysis of Menifee, United States
Menifee, California, is a pretty good spot for generating solar energy all year round due to its location in the Northern Sub Tropics. In simpler terms, it gets lots of sunshine throughout the year which can be converted into electricity by solar panels.
Let's break down how much electricity you can expect from each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power during different seasons. During summer and spring, you'll get the most energy with 7.85 and 7.07 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day respectively - these are the ideal times to generate solar at this location because there's more sunlight available. Autumn also offers decent generation with 5.26 kWh/day while winter gives about 3.88 kWh/day due to shorter days and less intense sunlight.
If you're installing fixed panels here, tilting them at an angle of 30 degrees towards South will maximize their exposure to sunlight over the course of a year and thus produce more electricity overall.
As for potential issues that might hinder your solar production in Menifee - weather conditions like fog or heavy cloud cover could reduce the amount of sunlight reaching your panels but these instances aren't usually significant enough to greatly impact your overall production given that Menifee has plenty sunny days annually.
However, dust accumulation on panels could potentially lower their efficiency over time as it blocks some sunlight from being absorbed by them. Regular cleaning would help prevent this issue though so just make sure not to neglect maintenance!
In conclusion, Menifee is quite favorable for harnessing solar energy throughout the year with only minor potential obstacles that can be easily managed through regular upkeep.
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 3041 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 Menifee
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.6637, Longitude: -117.1743 (Menifee, 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 Menifee, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Menifee, United States (Lat/Long 33.6637, -117.1743) 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 Menifee, 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 Menifee, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17° 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 Menifee, 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 Menifee, 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 Menifee, United States
Menifee, United States is located in Riverside County, California. The terrain around Menifee is relatively flat with gentle rolling hills. It's part of the Sun City area which is situated in the southwestern portion of the Perris Block along Ethanac Road.
The climate in this region is Mediterranean-like with hot summers and mild winters, which makes it quite suitable for solar PV installations. Furthermore, the high number of sunny days per year (approximately 275) enhances its potential for solar energy generation.
Several areas nearby would be suited to large-scale solar PV installations:
1. Desert Areas: There are vast desert areas to the east of Menifee towards Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park that receive a lot of sunlight throughout the year.
2. Agricultural Land: There are also agricultural lands surrounding Menifee that could potentially host dual-use systems (agrivoltaics), where farming and renewable energy production coexist.
3. Rooftops: Large commercial or industrial rooftops within Menifee city limits could also be used for installing smaller scale distributed solar PV systems.
4. Unused Land: Any unused or barren land around Menifee can also be considered for large-scale solar installations given appropriate environmental assessments and permissions from local authorities.
However, any decision on specific sites should take into account factors such as connection to grid infrastructure, potential environmental impacts including biodiversity loss and water use considerations, as well as social factors like community acceptance.
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: Thursday 20th of June 2024
Last Updated: Wednesday 26th of June 2024
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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.
