Solar PV Analysis of Temple City, United States
The location in Temple City, California is pretty good for generating energy through solar panels all year round. This is because it gets a decent amount of sunlight throughout the year. The most productive time to generate solar energy here would be during the summer, when you can expect around 8.42 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power. Spring also provides a substantial amount with about 7.54 kWh/day per kW.
During autumn and winter, the output drops slightly due to shorter days and less intense sunlight - you'd get around 5.40 kWh/day per kW in autumn and about 3.82 kWh/day per kW in winter.
For this location, if you're setting up fixed solar panels (ones that don't move or track the sun), it's ideal to tilt them towards south at an angle of about 30 degrees from horizontal level - this helps maximize your overall yearly production from your solar setup.
As far as local factors that might hinder your solar production go, California does occasionally experience wildfires which could potentially block out some sunlight with smoke and ash particles in air but these incidents are not frequent enough to significantly impact annual output levels.
Also keep an eye on any large trees or buildings nearby that may cast shadows onto your panels especially during mornings and late afternoons – these can reduce their effectiveness by blocking direct sunlight exposure needed for optimal performance.
To ensure greater energy production despite these potential issues:
1) Make sure there’s nothing obstructing your panels like tall trees or buildings.
2) Regularly clean off any debris like leaves or dust from your panels.
3) If possible, install some sort of monitoring system so you can quickly address any sudden dips in power generation which might indicate a problem.
4) In case of wildfire smoke affecting panel efficiency consider installing microinverters which allow each panel to operate independently hence minimizing overall system output loss.
By taking these steps, you can help ensure your solar energy setup in Temple City is as productive as possible.
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 Temple City
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 34.1021, Longitude: -118.0474 (Temple City, 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 Temple City, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Temple City, United States (Lat/Long 34.1021, -118.0474) 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 Temple City, 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 Temple City, 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 Temple City, 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 Temple City, 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 Temple City, United States
Temple City is located in the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County, California. The topography of this area is relatively flat with some gentle hills. It's surrounded by mountain ranges including the San Gabriel Mountains to the north.
Given its southern California location, Temple City and surrounding areas receive a high amount of sunlight annually, making it suitable for large-scale solar PV installations. However, considering urban development and population density within Temple City itself, it might not be ideal for large scale solar farms due to space constraints.
Nearby less densely populated or undeveloped areas would be more suitable for such projects. For instance:
1) Antelope Valley: Located to the north of Los Angeles County in the western tip of Mojave Desert, Antelope Valley has vast open spaces and receives abundant sunlight throughout the year.
2) Inland Empire: This region east of Los Angeles also offers wide open spaces that could accommodate large-scale solar installations.
3) Desert regions: Further afield, desert regions like Mojave Desert have been sites for several major solar power plants due to their ample sun exposure and availability of land.
4) Rooftop Solar Panels: Within urban areas like Temple City itself or nearby Pasadena & Arcadia etc., there can be significant potential on rooftops (both residential & commercial buildings), carports etc., which are typically under-utilized spaces but receive good sun exposure most part of the year.
Remember that feasibility will depend on various factors including land use regulations, proximity to transmission lines and substations (for grid connectivity), environmental considerations among others.
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: Sunday 21st 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.
