Solar PV Analysis of Walla Walla, United States
Walla Walla, Washington, is a decent location for generating solar energy throughout the year. However, its efficiency varies across different seasons. In simple terms, you get the most out of your solar panels during summer and spring when there's more sunlight. Summer sees an average of 7.74 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day per kilowatt (kW) of installed solar capacity while spring produces about 6.41 kWh/day/kW.
On the other hand, autumn and winter have less sunlight so your panels won't generate as much power - only around 3.37 kWh/day/kW in fall and even lower at 1.63 kWh/day/kW in winter.
For optimal performance all year round at this location, it is recommended to tilt your fixed panel installations towards south by an angle of 38 degrees.
As for potential obstacles to solar production in Walla Walla: weather can be a significant factor since it affects how much sun reaches your panels. Frequent cloudy or rainy days will reduce their output as they rely on direct sunlight to work efficiently.
However, don't let that discourage you from installing solar panels! There are ways to mitigate these issues:
1) Install a larger system: If you have space and budget for it, consider installing more panels or higher efficiency ones that can capture more light even on gloomy days.
2) Regular maintenance: Keep the panels clean and free from dust or snow which might block sunlight.
3) Battery storage: Consider adding battery storage to save excess power generated during sunny periods for use during less productive times.
4) Monitoring system: Use a monitoring system to track performance and quickly identify any problems with individual modules within your array.
In conclusion, while Walla Walla may not be the ideal place for consistent year-round solar generation due to seasonal variations in sunshine hours and possible weather challenges; with proper installation angle set-up (38 degrees South), system design and maintenance, you can still harness a significant amount of solar energy throughout the year.
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 Walla Walla
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 46.0594, Longitude: -118.3361 (Walla Walla, 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 38° South in Walla Walla, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Walla Walla, United States (Lat/Long 46.0594, -118.3361) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 38° 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 Walla Walla, 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 Walla Walla, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 38° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29° South in Summer | 49° South in Autumn | 60° South in Winter | 38° 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 Walla Walla, 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 Walla Walla, 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 Walla Walla, United States
Walla Walla, United States is located in the southeastern region of Washington State. The topography of this area is characterized by rolling hills and fertile plains, with the Blue Mountains to the east. It lies within the Columbia Basin, which is a relatively flat area interspersed with some hills.
For large-scale solar PV installations, areas that are flat or gently sloping would be ideal as they would minimize installation costs and maximize sun exposure. Considering this, the plains around Walla Walla could be suitable for such projects due to their relative flatness. Also important to consider would be proximity to existing power infrastructure for ease of integration into the grid.
However, it's worth noting that while Walla Walla does receive a good amount of sunshine (more than other parts of Washington), it may not be as ideal as more arid regions like central or eastern Washington where there's less cloud cover overall. Hence feasibility studies including weather patterns should also be conducted before deciding on specific locations for solar farms.
In terms of environmental impact and land use considerations, unused agricultural lands or brownfield sites can often serve as excellent locations for large-scale solar developments since these types of projects tend not to require rich soils or pristine natural environments.
Finally, local regulations and community acceptance will play crucial roles in determining where a solar farm could potentially be installed near Walla Walla – so any proposed project will need thorough social and regulatory assessments too.
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 16th 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.
