West Hills, California, located in the Northern Sub Tropics at latitude 34.1957° and longitude -118.6466°, offers a generally favorable location for solar PV energy generation throughout the year, though with significant seasonal variations.

Solar energy production at this location follows a predictable seasonal pattern. During summer months, panels can generate an impressive 8.44kWh per day for each kilowatt installed, making it the most productive season. Spring follows closely behind with 7.52kWh/day, while autumn production drops to 5.34kWh/day. Winter shows the lowest output at 3.76kWh/day, though still providing reasonable generation compared to many other locations.

Seasonal Considerations

The substantial difference between summer and winter production (more than double) highlights the seasonal nature of solar generation in West Hills. This location benefits from long, sunny summer days typical of Southern California, with peak production occurring from May through August. Spring months (March-May) also offer excellent generation potential as days lengthen and skies clear after winter.

For maximum year-round energy production, fixed solar panels should be installed at a 30-degree tilt facing south. This optimal angle balances the seasonal variations in sun position, maximizing annual energy harvest rather than optimizing for any single season.

Environmental Factors to Consider

Several environmental factors could potentially impact solar production in West Hills:

• Wildfire smoke and ash: Southern California's increasingly frequent wildfires can temporarily reduce solar output by blocking sunlight. Regular panel cleaning after fire events is recommended.
• Santa Ana winds: These seasonal strong, dry winds can carry dust and debris that may accumulate on panels. Wind-resistant mounting systems and periodic cleaning can mitigate this issue.
• Coastal fog influence: Though inland, West Hills can occasionally experience morning marine layer fog that burns off by midday. This primarily affects morning production during certain seasons.

To maximize production despite these challenges, installing panels with micro-inverters or power optimizers can help minimize the impact of partial shading. Additionally, implementing an automated cleaning system or scheduling regular maintenance will ensure optimal performance year-round.

Overall, West Hills presents an excellent location for solar PV installation with strong year-round potential, especially during the extended spring and summer seasons when electricity demand for cooling is also at its highest.

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 West Hills

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 34.1957, Longitude: -118.6466 (West Hills, 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 West Hills, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in West Hills, United States (Lat/Long 34.1957, -118.6466) 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 West Hills, 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 West Hills, 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 West Hills, 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 West Hills, 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 West Hills, United States

West Hills, nestled in the western San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, features a diverse topography that transitions from flat valley areas to rolling hills and steep mountainous terrain. The community sits at the base of the Santa Monica Mountains, which form its southern boundary, creating a dramatic backdrop of rugged slopes and canyons. The northern portions of West Hills consist of relatively flat to gently sloping terrain, typical of the San Fernando Valley floor. As you move southward, the landscape gradually rises into the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, with increasingly steep slopes and varying elevations. These hills are characterized by oak-studded canyons, chaparral-covered slopes, and rocky outcroppings that create a visually striking landscape. Several notable topographical features define the area, including Castle Peak, a prominent 1,500-foot mountain in the southwestern portion of West Hills. The area also contains numerous small valleys, canyons, and seasonal streams that have carved through the terrain over millennia. This varied topography contributes to microclimates throughout the region, with south-facing slopes receiving more direct sunlight than north-facing slopes.

Potential Areas for Solar PV Development

For large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, the most suitable areas would be found in the flatter, northern portions of the San Fernando Valley, extending beyond West Hills proper. These areas offer several advantages for solar development: The flat valley floor provides large, contiguous parcels of land with minimal grading requirements. This reduces construction costs and environmental impacts compared to hillside installations. The valley areas also receive abundant sunshine throughout the year, with fewer shading issues from topographical features like mountains or hills. Specifically, the northwestern San Fernando Valley, including portions of Chatsworth and areas north of West Hills, contains some industrial and commercial zones that could potentially accommodate large solar installations on rooftops or as canopies over parking areas. These locations offer the dual benefits of being close to existing electrical infrastructure and utilizing already-developed land rather than pristine natural areas. The nearby Simi Valley, located to the west of West Hills, also contains flat terrain that receives excellent solar exposure. Some of the less-developed portions of this valley could potentially support larger solar installations, though careful consideration would need to be given to land-use regulations and environmental impacts. It's worth noting that the hillside and mountainous areas of the Santa Monica Mountains to the south, while receiving good solar exposure, would generally be poor candidates for large-scale solar development due to their steep slopes, ecological sensitivity, protected status, and the engineering challenges associated with building on unstable terrain. Additionally, many of these areas are designated as parkland or protected open space. The ideal locations for large-scale solar would balance factors including flat terrain, proximity to existing transmission infrastructure, appropriate zoning, and minimal conflicts with other land uses or ecological resources. In this densely populated region, brownfield sites, former industrial areas, or large commercial rooftops may ultimately prove more practical than new ground-mounted installations.

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.