Solar PV Analysis of Upland, United States
Upland, California is a pretty good location for generating solar energy year-round. The amount of electricity you can generate from solar panels depends on the season. In the summer, each kilowatt of installed solar can produce about 8.37 kilowatt-hours per day. This decreases to about 5.54 in the fall and drops further to around 3.97 in winter, then increases again to approximately 7.72 in spring.
This means that your solar panels will be most productive during summer and spring when there's more sunlight available for longer periods of time compared to autumn and winter.
To make sure you're getting as much energy as possible from your solar panels throughout the year, they should be tilted at an angle of 30 degrees facing south if they are fixed panel installations.
There may be some local factors that could affect how much energy your solar panels generate though - things like weather or environmental conditions specific to Upland, California.
For instance, dust and debris accumulating on your panels can reduce their efficiency significantly by blocking sunlight from reaching them fully which is why it's important to keep them clean especially during dry seasons when dust levels might be high due to lack of rain.
Another potential issue could come from occasional cloudy or foggy days which would limit sunlight exposure hence reducing power output but this isn't usually significant enough in Upland since it has a fairly sunny climate overall with average annual sunshine hours being higher than many other places across US.
Preventative measures such as regular cleaning schedule for your panels or installing them at optimal locations where they aren't shadowed by buildings or trees can help ensure greater energy production despite these challenges.
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 Upland
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 34.1172, Longitude: -117.6472 (Upland, 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 Upland, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Upland, United States (Lat/Long 34.1172, -117.6472) 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 Upland, 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 Upland, 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 Upland, 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 Upland, 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 Upland, United States
Upland is located in San Bernardino County, California, and it lies at the base of the highest part of the San Gabriel Mountains. The city's topography is characterized by a relatively flat terrain with some rolling hills. Upland has an elevation that ranges from 1,242 feet to 1,650 feet above sea level.
The climate in Upland is Mediterranean-like with hot summers and mild winters which makes it ideal for solar PV installations. Moreover, Southern California generally receives a high amount of sunlight throughout the year making it one of the best places in the United States for solar power generation.
For large-scale solar PV projects, open spaces or areas with less development would be most suitable to avoid potential conflicts with other land uses. Areas such as agricultural lands or industrial zones could be good options.
Specifically around Upland, potential locations could include:
1) The desert areas towards east like Victorville or Barstow.
2) Unused agricultural lands towards south near Riverside.
3) Industrial zones within Upland itself or neighboring cities like Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga.
However, any decision on siting large-scale solar PV should also take into account factors like proximity to transmission lines and substations (for grid connection), environmental impacts (like biodiversity loss), local regulations on renewable energy projects 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!
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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Tuesday 23rd 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.
