Solar PV Analysis of Yuba City, United States
Yuba City, California, is a decent location for year-round solar energy production. In simpler terms, if you install solar panels here, you can expect to generate a good amount of electricity from them throughout the year.
During summer and spring, the solar panels will work at their best because they'll get plenty of sunlight - about 8.48kWh/day in summer and 7.40kWh/day in spring per each kW of installed solar power. However, during autumn and winter when there's less sunlight available due to shorter days or cloud cover, your panels will produce less electricity - about 4.50kWh/day in autumn and only 2.61kWh/day in winter per kW.
To maximize the total amount of electricity your panels can produce over the course of a year at this location, it's recommended that they are tilted at an angle facing South by about 33 degrees.
However, keep in mind that local weather conditions could affect how much electricity your panels generate throughout the year - for instance heavy fog or dust storms could block sunlight from reaching your panels; also snow accumulation on panels during winters may decrease their productivity significantly.
In order to overcome these potential issues:
1) Regular maintenance like cleaning off dust or debris from the surface of your solar panel would help ensure better performance.
2) Installing devices like "snow guards" which prevent snow build-up on surfaces could be useful during winters.
3) It might be beneficial to use tracking systems that move with sun’s position maximizing exposure even on cloudy days but such system comes with additional costs and complexity.
Remember though: while these factors might affect overall performance slightly depending upon frequency/severity but generally speaking Yuba City still remains a good place for installing Solar PVs due its favorable sunny weather most part of 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 Yuba City
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.1061, Longitude: -121.6159 (Yuba 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 33° South in Yuba City, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Yuba City, United States (Lat/Long 39.1061, -121.6159) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 33° 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 Yuba 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 Yuba City, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 33° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22° South in Summer | 43° South in Autumn | 53° South in Winter | 31° 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 Yuba 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 Yuba 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 Yuba City, United States
Yuba City is located in the Sacramento Valley of California, United States. The topography around Yuba City is generally flat with an average elevation of about 60 feet (18 meters) above sea level. It features fertile plains suitable for agriculture, with some low-lying hills and mountains in the distant surroundings.
The region has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters - conditions that are relatively favorable for solar power generation.
As for areas most suited to large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations:
1. Agricultural Land: Given its agricultural nature, there could be potential to integrate solar PV systems into existing farmland without significantly impacting agricultural productivity – a concept known as agrivoltaics or dual-use farming.
2. Unused/Underutilized Land: Any unused or underutilized lands in the surrounding area would also be good candidates for large-scale solar projects.
3. Rooftops: In urban areas like Yuba City itself, rooftops of commercial buildings and residences can also be used to install smaller scale distributed PV systems.
4. Brownfield Sites: If any exist nearby, brownfield sites (land previously used for industrial purposes or certain commercial uses) can often be repurposed into renewable energy projects like solar farms.
It should be noted that while these suggestions are based on general principles and the broad characteristics of the region's geography/climate; actual site selection would require detailed feasibility studies considering multiple factors including land ownership/rights, local regulations/zoning rules, proximity to transmission infrastructure etc.
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!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Thursday 21st of March 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.
