Solar PV Analysis of San Bernardino, United States
San Bernardino, California is a pretty good place to generate solar energy all year round. The amount of electricity you can get from solar panels changes with the seasons: in summer, each kilowatt of installed solar power will give about 8.37 kilowatt-hours per day; in autumn, it's around 5.54; in winter, it drops to 3.97; and in spring, it goes up again to 7.72.
To get the most out of your solar panels throughout the year at this location, they should be tilted at an angle of 30 degrees facing South.
However, there might be some local factors that could affect how much power you can generate from your solar panels here. For example:
- Weather: San Bernardino has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters which is generally great for generating solar energy but occasional heavy rains or foggy days may temporarily reduce output.
- Air quality: San Bernardino County sometimes suffers from poor air quality due to smog and wildfires which could also potentially reduce the efficiency of your panels.
To help make sure you're getting as much electricity as possible from your panels despite these challenges:
1) Ensure regular cleaning and maintenance - This helps keep them operating efficiently even if they get dirty from dust or soot during wildfire season or after heavy rainstorms.
2) Install tracking systems - These allow your panels to move with the sun throughout the day instead of being fixed in one position which can maximize their exposure especially on less sunny days (though this adds cost).
Overall though, while these factors may have some impact on production levels occasionally during certain times of year or under certain conditions; overall San Bernardino remains a very suitable location for producing substantial amounts of renewable energy via Solar PV installations throughout most parts of the year due its predominantly sunny climate.
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 San Bernardino
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 34.1076, Longitude: -117.2885 (San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in San Bernardino, United States (Lat/Long 34.1076, -117.2885) 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 San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino, 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 | 49° 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 San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino, United States
San Bernardino is located in the southern part of California and is surrounded by various geographical features. To the north and east, you'll find mountain ranges such as San Bernardino Mountains and San Gabriel Mountains which are part of the larger Transverse Ranges. The city itself lies in a valley, specifically, the San Bernardino Valley.
To the south and west, it gradually transitions into more flatland as you approach Riverside County. This area includes desert-like landscapes typical of Southern California with sparse vegetation due to its Mediterranean climate.
Regarding solar PV installations, large-scale projects require areas with high levels of sunlight for maximum efficiency. Fortunately, San Bernardino gets plenty of sun throughout most of the year making it suitable for solar energy production.
The flatter areas towards Riverside County would be more suited for large-scale solar PV due to ease of installation and maintenance compared to hilly or mountainous terrain. Additionally, these regions are less densely populated reducing potential conflicts over land use.
However, environmental impact assessments would need to be conducted before any project initiation as Southern California is home to unique ecosystems that may be sensitive to such developments.
It's also worth noting that urban rooftop solar installations could also be a viable option within city limits where space on ground might not be available but this wouldn't constitute "large-scale" in terms traditional solar farms.
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
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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.
