Solar PV Analysis of West Valley City, United States
West Valley City, Utah, in the United States is a decent spot for generating solar energy throughout the year. However, its efficiency varies with seasons.
During summer and spring, you can expect more electricity output per day from your solar panels than during autumn or winter. Specifically, for every kilowatt of installed solar power, you can expect about 7.86 kWh/day in summer and 6.74 kWh/day in spring. This means that these are the ideal times to generate solar power at this location because of longer daylight hours and higher sun intensity.
In contrast, during autumn and winter months when there's less sunlight due to shorter days and lower sun intensity, your solar panels will produce less electricity - around 4.18 kWh/day in fall and even lower at 2.65kWh/day in winter.
If you're installing fixed panel installations here, it's recommended to tilt them towards south at an angle of about 35 degrees to get as much sunlight exposure as possible throughout the year which would maximize their overall performance.
As far as local factors that could impede solar production go - West Valley City does experience some snowfall during winter months which might cover your panels reducing their efficiency temporarily until cleared off. Also occasional dust storms may dirty panels reducing their effectiveness until cleaned.
To counteract these issues:
1) You could consider installing a system that automatically clears snow off your panels.
2) Regular cleaning/maintenance is also advised especially after dust storms.
3) If possible install systems where each panel operates independently so if one gets covered by snow or dirt others continue producing energy unimpeded.
4) Consider using anti-reflective coating on panels which can help increase light absorption thus improving overall efficiency even under less ideal conditions like cloudy days or low-light winters.
So while not perfect all-year round for generating maximum potential energy via Solar PV due to seasonal variations; with right installation strategy & maintenance West Valley City, Utah can be a good place for solar energy production.
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 West Valley City
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 40.6981, Longitude: -111.9999 (West Valley City, 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 35° South in West Valley City, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in West Valley City, United States (Lat/Long 40.6981, -111.9999) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 35° 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 Valley City, 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 Valley City, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 35° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24° South in Summer | 45° South in Autumn | 55° South in Winter | 33° 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 Valley City, 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 Valley City, 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 West Valley City, United States
West Valley City is located in the northeastern part of Utah, United States. The topography of West Valley City and its surrounding areas can be described as a mix of flat plains and mountainous regions. The city itself sits on relatively flat terrain, which gradually rises towards the east to form part of the Wasatch Mountain Range.
The climate in this region is semi-arid with plenty of sunny days throughout the year, making it suitable for solar PV installations. However, given that large-scale solar PV systems require substantial amounts of land area for installation, certain factors need to be considered:
1) Flat Areas: Large-scale solar farms are best suited to flat or gently sloping areas where panels can easily be installed and oriented towards the sun. Therefore, plains around West Valley City would potentially be more suitable than mountainous regions.
2) Proximity to Infrastructure: Solar farms need to be close enough to existing power grid infrastructure for easy connection and transmission.
3) Environmental Impact: Any potential environmental impact needs to be assessed before installation. For example, if an area is home to endangered species or sensitive ecosystems then it may not be suitable for development.
4) Land Use Regulations: Local zoning laws and regulations could affect where a solar farm can legally be built.
In general terms without considering specific constraints related with each plot (like ownership or regulatory restrictions), areas westward from West Valley City like Magna could offer good opportunities due their flatter topography compared with eastern locations closer to Wasatch Range.
Keep in mind that these are just general guidelines; a detailed feasibility study would need to take place before any large-scale solar project proceeds.
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 9th of July 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.
