Solar PV Analysis of Visalia, United States
Visalia, California is a pretty good location for generating solar power throughout the year. The amount of energy you can get from your solar panels varies with the seasons. In summer and spring, you can expect to generate quite a bit of electricity - about 8.51 kilowatt-hours per day for each kilowatt of solar panels installed in summer, and about 7.62 kWh/day in spring.
In autumn and winter, however, your panels won't produce as much power because there's less sunlight available - only around 4.86 kWh/day in autumn and even less at 3.16 kWh/day in winter.
To get the most energy out of your solar panels all year round in Visalia, you should tilt them at an angle of 31 degrees facing southward.
There might be certain local factors that could affect how much energy your solar panels can produce. For instance, if there are tall buildings or trees blocking sunlight from reaching your panels, this will reduce their output significantly.
Weather conditions such as foggy or cloudy days may also decrease production since these conditions block direct sunlight too but Visalia has more sunny days than average which is beneficial for solar production.
To ensure greater energy production despite these potential issues:
1) Choose an installation site that gets plenty of sun exposure without shadows falling on it throughout the day.
2) Regularly clean off any dust or debris that might gather on the panel surfaces.
3) Consider using tracking mounts that follow the sun's path across the sky instead of fixed mounts to maximize exposure to sunlight.
4) Install a battery storage system so excess power generated during peak hours isn't wasted but stored for use when needed (like during cloudy days or nights).
Remember though every situation is unique so it’s best to consult with a professional installer who understands local conditions well before making decisions regarding panel placement and other aspects related to maximizing output from your PV system in Visalia.
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 3033 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 Visalia
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 36.317, Longitude: -119.3087 (Visalia, 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 31° South in Visalia, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Visalia, United States (Lat/Long 36.317, -119.3087) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 31° 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 Visalia, 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 Visalia, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 31° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20° South in Summer | 40° South in Autumn | 50° South in Winter | 29° 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 Visalia, 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 Visalia, 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 Visalia, United States
Visalia, located in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States, is characterized by relatively flat topography. It's surrounded by several mountain ranges including Sierra Nevada to the east and Coastal Ranges to the west. However, within and around Visalia itself, it remains predominantly level which can be suitable for large-scale solar PV installations.
Given its location in Central California with ample sunlight throughout most of the year (average 272 sunny days per year), Visalia is considered a good place for solar energy production. The open farmland areas surrounding Visalia could potentially be utilized for large-scale solar PV projects without significant geographical constraints.
However, any decision regarding this would need to consider various factors such as land use regulations (agricultural vs renewable energy), local community impact and environmental implications among others.
Another potential area nearby could be on unused land or rooftops in industrial zones where there are fewer restrictions compared to agricultural lands. Also desert regions towards southeast like Mojave Desert have been popular locations for massive scale solar farms due to their high sun exposure and availability of vast barren lands.
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: Monday 15th of July 2024
Last Updated: Monday 15th of July 2024
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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.
