Turlock, California, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a generally favorable environment for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. The city's geographical position at latitude 37.4912 and longitude -120.8559 provides ample sunlight exposure, particularly during the warmer months.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Solar energy production in Turlock varies significantly across seasons. Summer stands out as the peak period, with an impressive average daily output of 8.63 kWh per kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely behind, generating 7.57 kWh/day. Autumn sees a moderate decline to 4.77 kWh/day, while winter experiences the lowest production at 3.00 kWh/day.

The substantial difference between summer and winter production highlights the importance of proper system sizing to ensure adequate energy supply during less productive months. Despite the winter dip, Turlock's overall solar potential remains promising, with spring and summer offering extended periods of high productivity.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed panel installations in Turlock, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round solar production is 32 degrees facing south. This angle optimizes the panels' exposure to sunlight throughout the year, accounting for seasonal variations in the sun's position.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

While Turlock generally presents favorable conditions for solar energy, there are a few factors to consider:

• Fog: The Central Valley, where Turlock is located, can experience dense fog, particularly in winter months. This may temporarily reduce solar efficiency.
• Dust and agricultural particulates: Given the region's agricultural activity, airborne dust can accumulate on panels, potentially decreasing their effectiveness.

To mitigate these issues, regular panel cleaning and maintenance are crucial. Additionally, installing panels at the optimal angle helps maximize exposure during clear periods and can aid in natural cleaning during rainfall.

Overall, Turlock's climate and geographical position make it a suitable location for solar PV installations, with the potential for high energy yields, especially during spring and summer months. Proper system design and maintenance can help overcome the minor challenges posed by local environmental factors.

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 Turlock

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 37.4912, Longitude: -120.8559 (Turlock, 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 32° South in Turlock, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Turlock, United States (Lat/Long 37.4912, -120.8559) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 32° 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 Turlock, 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 Turlock, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 32° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
21° South in Summer	41° South in Autumn	51° South in Winter	30° 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 Turlock, 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 Turlock, United States.

Our calculation method

1. Solar Position:
   We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination.
2. Shadow Projection:
   We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle.
3. 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 Turlock, United States

The area surrounding Turlock, California, situated in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, is characterized by predominantly flat terrain. This region is part of the expansive Central Valley, known for its agricultural productivity and vast open spaces. The topography around Turlock is remarkably level, with only subtle variations in elevation across the landscape. To the east of Turlock, the terrain gradually begins to rise as it approaches the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. However, this transition is quite gradual, and the immediate vicinity of Turlock remains largely flat. To the west, the land continues its flat expanse towards the coastal ranges, maintaining its low-lying character for many miles. The city itself and its surrounding areas sit at an elevation of approximately 100 feet above sea level. This consistent elevation contributes to the region's suitability for agriculture, as well as its potential for other land uses, including renewable energy projects.

Solar PV Potential in the Turlock Area

The topographical characteristics of the Turlock area make it particularly well-suited for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. The flat, open terrain provides ideal conditions for maximizing solar exposure and minimizing installation challenges. Several factors contribute to the region's suitability for solar PV development: Firstly, the vast expanses of level land allow for the efficient arrangement of solar panels without the need for extensive grading or earthwork. This reduces construction costs and environmental impact. Secondly, the area experiences a high number of sunny days throughout the year, with minimal cloud cover. This abundance of sunlight ensures optimal energy generation from solar installations. Thirdly, the agricultural nature of the surrounding land means that there are often large, contiguous parcels available for development, which is crucial for utility-scale solar projects. Areas to the west and southwest of Turlock, extending towards the cities of Patterson and Newman, present particularly promising locations for large-scale solar PV installations. These areas offer expansive, flat terrain with minimal urban development, making them ideal for solar farms. Additionally, the regions to the southeast of Turlock, approaching the communities of Merced and Los Banos, also provide suitable conditions for solar PV development. These areas benefit from the same flat topography and abundant sunshine, while also offering proximity to existing power infrastructure. It's worth noting that while the topography and climate of the Turlock area are highly favorable for solar PV development, any large-scale projects would need to carefully consider factors such as land use regulations, environmental impact, and grid connectivity. Nonetheless, the natural characteristics of the region make it a prime candidate for significant solar energy development in the future.

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

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.