Wilmington, California, located in the Northern Sub-Tropics at coordinates 33.781, -118.2622, presents a favorable environment for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. This location benefits from its proximity to the Pacific coast and experiences a Mediterranean climate, which contributes to its solar potential.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output in Wilmington varies across seasons, with summer being the most productive period. During summer months, solar panels can generate an impressive 7.12 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows closely behind with 6.82 kWh/day, making it the second-best season for solar production.

Autumn sees a moderate decrease in solar output, with panels producing 4.79 kWh/day. Winter, as expected, has the lowest generation at 3.66 kWh/day. However, it's worth noting that even during the least productive season, Wilmington still maintains a respectable solar output.

Optimal Panel Placement

For fixed panel installations in Wilmington, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round solar production is 30 degrees facing South. This angle optimizes the panels' exposure to sunlight throughout the year, accounting for the location's latitude and the Earth's elliptical orbit.

Environmental Considerations

While Wilmington generally offers excellent conditions for solar energy production, there are a few environmental factors to consider:

• Coastal fog: Being close to the Pacific, morning fog can occasionally reduce solar output, especially in summer months.
• Air pollution: As part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, Wilmington may experience periods of poor air quality, which can slightly diminish solar panel efficiency.

Preventative Measures

To mitigate these potential issues, consider the following measures when installing solar panels:

1. Use anti-reflective coatings on panels to maximize light absorption, even in foggy conditions.

2. Implement a regular cleaning schedule to remove any pollutants or salt spray that may accumulate on the panels.

3. Consider microinverters or power optimizers to minimize the impact of partial shading from fog or pollution.

Overall, Wilmington's climate and geographical location make it an excellent choice for solar PV installations, with high potential for energy generation throughout the year, especially during the spring and summer months.

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 Wilmington, California

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.781, Longitude: -118.2622 (Wilmington, California, 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 Wilmington, California, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Wilmington, California, United States (Lat/Long 33.781, -118.2622) 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 Wilmington, California, 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 Wilmington, California, 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 Wilmington, California, 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 Wilmington, California, 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 Wilmington, California, United States

The topography around Wilmington, located in Los Angeles County, California, is characterized by a relatively flat coastal plain. This area is part of the larger Los Angeles Basin, which is a low-lying coastal sediment-filled plain surrounded by mountains and hills. The terrain in Wilmington and its immediate surroundings is predominantly level, with only slight variations in elevation. To the west of Wilmington lies the Pacific Ocean, with the Port of Los Angeles and its various harbor facilities dominating the coastline. The area's proximity to the ocean results in a gentle slope towards the shore, but this incline is hardly noticeable in most parts of Wilmington itself. To the north and east, the landscape gradually transitions into more urban and industrial areas of Los Angeles. While still primarily flat, these regions may have slight undulations due to urban development and infrastructure. As one moves further east, the terrain begins to rise more noticeably towards the Puente Hills and San Gabriel Mountains, but this change in elevation occurs well beyond Wilmington's immediate vicinity. South of Wilmington, the topography remains largely flat as it extends into other coastal communities like San Pedro and Long Beach. This area is part of the same coastal plain, with minimal natural elevation changes.

Suitability for Large-Scale Solar PV

When considering areas nearby that would be most suited to large-scale solar PV installations, several factors come into play. The flat terrain of the Los Angeles Basin provides an advantage for solar development, as it reduces the need for extensive land preparation and allows for easier installation and maintenance of solar panels. The areas east and northeast of Wilmington, extending towards the inland regions of Los Angeles County and into San Bernardino County, offer the most promising locations for large-scale solar PV projects. These areas benefit from several favorable conditions: Firstly, they experience higher levels of solar irradiance compared to the immediate coastal areas, which can be affected by marine layer clouds. The inland regions typically have clearer skies and more days of unobstructed sunlight, increasing the potential energy output of solar installations. Secondly, as one moves away from the densely populated coastal areas, more open land becomes available. This is crucial for large-scale solar projects that require significant space. The transition from urban to more rural landscapes provides opportunities for expansive solar farms without the constraints of dense urban development. Lastly, the gradual increase in elevation as one moves inland can be advantageous for solar energy capture. Slightly elevated areas may have less atmospheric interference and can potentially receive more direct sunlight throughout the day. It's important to note, however, that any large-scale solar PV development would need to carefully consider environmental impacts, land use regulations, and grid connection possibilities. While the topography and climate of the inland areas near Wilmington are generally favorable for solar energy, specific site assessments would be necessary to determine the most suitable locations for such 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

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.