Solar PV Analysis of Santa Fe Springs, United States
Santa Fe Springs, California is a pretty good place for generating energy through solar panels throughout the year. The amount of electricity produced by each kilowatt of installed solar varies with the seasons. During summer, you can expect about 7.11 kilowatt-hours per day, and in spring it's slightly less at 6.84 kilowatt-hours per day. These are the best times to generate solar power because there's more sunlight during these months.
In autumn and winter though, there's less sunlight so your panels will produce less electricity - around 4.85 kilowatt-hours per day in autumn and even lower in winter with just about 3.72 kilowatt-hours per day.
To get the most out of your solar panels in Santa Fe Springs throughout the year, they should be tilted at an angle facing southwards by about 30 degrees.
There might be some factors that could reduce how much energy you can generate from your solar panels here though - things like weather conditions or local environment aspects may play a role.
For instance, Santa Fe Springs does experience occasional foggy days which could limit sunlight exposure to your panels hence reducing their output somewhat on those days; also if they're covered by dust or bird droppings this could affect their efficiency too.
To prevent these issues from affecting how much energy you can generate, regular cleaning and maintenance would help keep them operating optimally - removing any dust or other debris that might build up over time on them regularly would ensure maximum exposure to sun rays when available.
Also consider installing systems that track the sun’s movement across the sky for improved efficiency especially during periods when direct sunlight may not be optimal due to weather variations.
However overall considering its location within Northern Sub Tropics region where sunshine is abundant for most part of year makes it an ideal location for Solar PV installation despite minor seasonal variations & manageable environmental factors.
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 Santa Fe Springs
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.9451, Longitude: -118.0817 (Santa Fe Springs, 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 Santa Fe Springs, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Santa Fe Springs, United States (Lat/Long 33.9451, -118.0817) 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 Santa Fe Springs, 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 Santa Fe Springs, 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 Santa Fe Springs, 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 Santa Fe Springs, 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 Santa Fe Springs, United States
Santa Fe Springs is located in Los Angeles County, California. The area is relatively flat, with slight undulations due to its proximity to the coastal plain of the Los Angeles Basin. Elevations range from about 50 feet to around 150 feet above sea level.
The climate in Santa Fe Springs and surrounding areas is characterized by a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters - conditions that are generally favorable for solar PV installations.
For large-scale solar PV installations, it would be ideal to find open spaces with minimal shading throughout the day. In this region, such spaces could include larger industrial or commercial buildings in Santa Fe Springs itself (utilizing rooftop space), as well as open lands towards the east and southeast of Santa Fe Springs where urban development starts giving way to more rural landscapes.
However, any specific project would need careful site assessment including factors such as local planning regulations, grid connectivity possibilities and potential environmental impacts.
Please note that while Southern California has high solar potential due its abundant sunshine throughout the year; cloud cover, foggy conditions (especially during June Gloom) can affect solar energy production.
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: Thursday 20th 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.
