Solar Energy Data for California
Detailed solar irradiance and production data for 4 cities in California. The state averages 5.17 kWh/m²/day GHI — Average solar resources.
California near the national average for solar energy production. Solar installations are economically viable across most of California, particularly where electricity rates are above the national average.
California Overview
- Cities with data
- 4
- Avg. GHI
- 5.17 kWh/m²/day
- Solar Rating
- Average
- Best City
- Los Angeles (5.3 kWh/m²/d)
Cities in California — Ranked by Solar Potential
4 cities| Rank | City | GHI (kWh/m²/d) | Peak Sun Hours | 5kW Production | Est. Annual Savings | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Los Angeles (pop. 3,979,576) | 5.3 | 6.1 | 8,848 kWh | $2,274 | 4.6 yrs |
| #2 | San Diego (pop. 1,386,932) | 5.26 | 6.0 | 8,804 kWh | $2,263 | 4.6 yrs |
| #3 | San Jose (pop. 1,013,240) | 5.12 | 5.9 | 8,556 kWh | $2,199 | 4.8 yrs |
| #4 | San Francisco (pop. 873,965) | 5.0 | 5.8 | 8,468 kWh | $2,176 | 4.8 yrs |
Analyze any California location
These figures are city-level averages. For your exact address in California, use SolarScope's Site Studio to account for roof orientation, shading, and your utility rate.