Victorville, California, located in the Northern Sub Tropics, offers a promising location for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. The city's geographical position at 34.4802° N latitude and -117.4093° W longitude provides favorable conditions for harnessing solar power, with varying levels of efficiency across seasons.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Solar energy production in Victorville exhibits significant seasonal variations. Summer stands out as the most productive season, with an impressive average daily output of 8.37 kWh per kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely behind, generating 7.72 kWh/day. Autumn sees a moderate decrease in production at 5.54 kWh/day, while winter experiences the lowest output at 3.97 kWh/day.

The substantial difference between summer and winter production highlights the impact of seasonal changes on solar efficiency in this region. However, even during the least productive winter months, the output remains relatively substantial, indicating that Victorville maintains year-round viability for solar energy generation.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed panel installations in Victorville, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round solar production is 30 degrees facing South. This angle optimizes the panels' exposure to sunlight throughout the year, accounting for the Earth's elliptical orbit and the location's specific latitude.

Environmental Considerations

While Victorville generally presents favorable conditions for solar energy production, there are some environmental factors to consider:

• Dust and sand: The area's desert climate can lead to dust accumulation on panels, potentially reducing efficiency.
• Extreme heat: Summer temperatures can soar, which may slightly decrease panel efficiency.

To mitigate these issues, regular panel cleaning and maintenance should be implemented. Additionally, choosing high-quality, heat-resistant panels and ensuring proper ventilation during installation can help maintain optimal performance in high temperatures.

Overall, Victorville's climate and geographical location make it an excellent choice for solar PV installations, with the potential for high energy production throughout the year, particularly from spring through autumn.

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 Victorville

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 34.4802, Longitude: -117.4093 (Victorville, 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 Victorville, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Victorville, United States (Lat/Long 34.4802, -117.4093) 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 Victorville, 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 Victorville, 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 Victorville, 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 Victorville, 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 Victorville, United States

Victorville, located in Southern California's Mojave Desert, is characterized by a diverse and rugged topography typical of the high desert region. The landscape surrounding the city is a mix of flat plains, gently rolling hills, and more dramatic rocky outcrops. The elevation of Victorville is approximately 2,726 feet (831 meters) above sea level, which contributes to its arid climate and unique terrain features. To the north and east of Victorville, the land gradually rises towards the San Bernardino Mountains, creating a series of foothills and valleys. These areas are dotted with Joshua trees, yucca plants, and other desert vegetation, giving the landscape a distinctive appearance. The Mojave River, though often dry, has carved a significant valley through the region, influencing the local topography and creating areas of slightly lower elevation. To the west and southwest, the terrain becomes flatter, transitioning into vast desert plains. These expansive areas, known as the Victor Valley, stretch for miles and are punctuated by occasional low hills and dry lake beds. The flatness of this terrain, combined with the region's abundant sunshine, makes it particularly well-suited for large-scale solar PV installations.

Areas Suitable for Large-Scale Solar PV

The regions most suited for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations near Victorville are primarily located to the west and southwest of the city. These areas offer several advantages for solar energy development: Firstly, the flat, open terrain of the Victor Valley provides ample space for expansive solar arrays without the need for significant land preparation. The lack of major geographical obstacles means that solar panels can be efficiently arranged to maximize sun exposure throughout the day. Secondly, this region experiences high levels of solar irradiance due to its desert climate, with clear skies for much of the year. This consistent and intense sunlight is ideal for solar energy production, ensuring high efficiency and output from PV installations. Additionally, the areas to the west of Victorville are generally less developed, with fewer residential and commercial structures. This reduces potential conflicts with existing land uses and minimizes the impact on local communities. It's worth noting that while these areas are well-suited for solar development, any large-scale projects would need to consider environmental factors, such as wildlife habitats and desert ecosystems. Careful planning and environmental assessments would be necessary to ensure sustainable development that balances energy production with conservation efforts. In conclusion, the topography around Victorville offers a mix of desert landscapes, with the flatter areas to the west and southwest presenting the most promising opportunities for large-scale solar PV installations. These regions combine favorable terrain, high solar potential, and available land, making them attractive for renewable energy development in the high desert of Southern California.

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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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.