Solar PV Analysis of Richland, United States
Richland, Washington is a somewhat decent location for generating solar energy throughout the year. The amount of electricity that can be produced from solar panels varies with each season. During summer and spring, the output is quite high, at 7.74 kilowatt-hours (kWh) and 6.41 kWh per day respectively for each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power. This means that these periods are ideal times to generate solar energy as there's more sunlight available.
However, during autumn and winter, the output drops significantly to 3.37 kWh/day and 1.63 kWh/day respectively per kW of installed solar due to shorter daylight hours and less intense sunlight in these seasons.
To maximize total yearly production from your solar photovoltaic (PV) system in Richland, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 39 degrees facing South. This position will allow them to capture as much sunlight as possible throughout the year.
There may be some factors that could potentially limit how much energy you can produce from your PV system in this area though:
1) Weather: Richland experiences all four seasons with varying intensity which could affect the efficiency of PV systems especially during cloudy or snowy days when there's limited sunshine.
2) Dust & Debris: Wind-borne dust or falling leaves might accumulate on the panels over time reducing their efficiency.
3) Shading: Any nearby tall buildings or trees could cast shadows on your panels limiting their exposure to direct sunlight.
To ensure greater production despite these challenges:
- Regular maintenance including cleaning off any dust or debris accumulated on the panel surface would help keep them working efficiently.
- If possible avoid installing panels where they might get shaded by nearby structures or vegetation during peak sun hours.
- Consider using advanced systems like trackers which follow sun’s movement across sky maximizing exposure even during less sunny months but note this comes with additional costs!
Remember while not perfect, Richland still offers reasonable conditions for solar energy production.
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 Richland
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 46.3193, Longitude: -119.3377 (Richland, 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 39° South in Richland, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Richland, United States (Lat/Long 46.3193, -119.3377) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 39° 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 Richland, 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 Richland, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 39° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30° South in Summer | 49° South in Autumn | 60° South in Winter | 38° 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 Richland, 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 Richland, 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 Richland, United States
Richland, United States is located in the southeastern part of Washington state. The topography in and around Richland is relatively flat with gentle slopes. The area falls within the Columbia Basin which is characterized by arid desert conditions, shrub-steppe vegetation, and a significant amount of sunshine throughout the year.
Given this topography and climate condition, large-scale solar PV projects could be potentially suitable for this region. Flat lands with high solar irradiance are ideal for such installations. In particular, areas to the south and west of Richland where there's less urban development would be suitable.
However, several other factors need to be considered before installing large scale solar PV such as local zoning laws or regulations related to land use, proximity to transmission lines or substations for power evacuation etc. Detailed site-specific feasibility studies would need to be conducted before making any decisions on specific locations for large-scale solar PV installations.
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 26th of June 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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.
