Solar PV Analysis of Paradise Valley, United States
Paradise Valley, Arizona, is a good place to generate solar energy all year round due to its location in the Northern Sub Tropics. This means it receives a lot of sunlight throughout the year. In simple terms, the more sunlight your solar panels receive, the more electricity they can produce.
In summer and spring, you can expect your solar panels to produce around 7.82kWh/day and 7.89kWh/day respectively per kW of installed solar - these are great numbers! Autumn and winter see a bit less production at 5.46kWh/day and 4.07kWh/day respectively per kW of installed solar but still quite decent output.
The best times for generating solar power in Paradise Valley would be during spring and summer when the days are longer and sunnier.
For fixed panel installations here, tilting your panels at an angle of 29 degrees facing south will give you maximum total yearly production from your solar PV system because this angle allows them to catch as much sunlight as possible over the course of a day.
As for potential issues that could affect your ability to generate electricity from sunlight in Paradise Valley - there aren't any major ones that immediately stand out because Arizona is known for its sunny weather most days of the year which makes it ideal for setting up Solar PV systems.
However, like anywhere else dust or dirt accumulation on panels can reduce their efficiency so regular cleaning is recommended especially during dry seasons when dust might accumulate faster than usual on surfaces including Solar Panels . Also occasional hail storms could potentially damage unprotected Solar Panels; therefore installing protective measures against hail damage such as sturdy frames or covers may be advisable if this risk is significant enough in this area based on local weather patterns & historical data about hail storms frequency & severity there.
Another thing worth noting: while Arizona does have some cloudy days (which isn't ideal since clouds block sunlight), overall it gets plenty enough sun throughout the year to make solar energy a viable option.
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 Paradise Valley
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.549, Longitude: -111.9567 (Paradise Valley, 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 29° South in Paradise Valley, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Paradise Valley, United States (Lat/Long 33.549, -111.9567) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 29° 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 Paradise Valley, 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 Paradise Valley, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 29° 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 | 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 Paradise Valley, 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 Paradise Valley, 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 Paradise Valley, United States
Paradise Valley is located in the state of Arizona, United States. The topography around Paradise Valley is generally flat with some hills and mountains surrounding it. The area is part of the Sonoran Desert and hence has a desert landscape with sparse vegetation.
Given its location in the sun-drenched state of Arizona, most areas around Paradise Valley would be suitable for large-scale solar PV installations due to high levels of sunlight throughout the year. Specifically, any flat open lands that are not ecologically sensitive or used for agriculture could potentially be ideal sites for solar farms.
Moreover, rooftops of commercial and residential buildings can also be considered as potential sites for smaller scale solar panel installation.
However, detailed site-specific studies including aspects like land ownership status, proximity to transmission lines etc., would need to be conducted before finalizing any location for large-scale solar PV 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!
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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Friday 31st of May 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.
