Solar PV Analysis of Palm Desert, United States
The location at Palm Desert, California is pretty good for generating energy via solar panels throughout the year. The amount of electricity you can expect to get from each kilowatt of installed solar varies with the seasons, but it's generally highest in summer (8.21 kWh/day) and spring (7.78 kWh/day), followed by autumn (5.56 kWh/day) and winter (3.98 kWh/day). So, if you're planning to install solar panels here, you'll get the most power in summer and spring.
To maximize your total energy production all year round, it's best to tilt your solar panels 30 degrees towards the South if they are fixed installations - this gives them the best exposure to sunlight over different times of day and seasons.
There may be some local factors that could affect how much power you can generate from your solar panels in Palm Desert though. For instance, dust storms could cover your panels with dirt or sand which block sunlight and reduce their efficiency; high temperatures might also make them less efficient as most PV cells perform better at cooler temperatures; finally there's a potential risk of damage from hailstorms although these are not very common in this area.
However, there are ways to manage these issues: regular cleaning will help keep dust or sand off your panels; installing a cooling system or placing them where they can catch a breeze might help keep temperature down; using sturdy materials that resist hail damage would be a good precautionary measure against extreme weather conditions too.
Overall though, given its sunny climate especially during summer and spring months along with proper care & installation considerations as mentioned above – Palm Desert does offer an ideal environment for harnessing solar energy efficiently throughout most parts of the year!
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 Palm Desert
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.7645, Longitude: -116.3369 (Palm Desert, 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 Palm Desert, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Palm Desert, United States (Lat/Long 33.7645, -116.3369) 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 Palm Desert, 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 Palm Desert, 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 | 39° South in Autumn | 48° South in Winter | 26° 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 Palm Desert, 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 Palm Desert, 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 Palm Desert, United States
Palm Desert is located in the Coachella Valley of Riverside County, California. The topography surrounding Palm Desert is characterized by a flat desert basin flanked by mountain ranges including the Santa Rosa Mountains to the south and San Jacinto Mountains to the west. The area has an arid desert climate with ample sunshine throughout the year.
Considering its sunny weather conditions, flat terrain and large tracts of undeveloped land, several areas around Palm Desert would be well-suited for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations.
The open desert lands east of Palm Desert towards Indio and beyond could be ideal locations for setting up solar farms due to their extensive sun exposure and relatively low land use conflicts.
Another potential region could be north towards Joshua Tree National Park or along Interstate 10 which also have vast expanses of flat desert terrain suitable for large-scale solar installations.
However, any development must consider environmental impact as these regions are home to sensitive ecosystems and protected wildlife species. Also, regulatory permissions from local authorities would be required before initiating any 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
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Wednesday 3rd of April 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.
