Abingdon, Virginia, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar PV energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations that potential solar installers should carefully consider.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows dramatic seasonal swings. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 6.55 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it an excellent time for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.64 kWh per day per kW, providing nearly comparable output to summer months. Autumn sees a notable decline to 4.18 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging period with only 2.38 kWh per day per kW. This winter output represents just over one-third of the summer peak, highlighting the location's dependence on seasonal sun conditions.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For maximum year-round energy production at this Abingdon location, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 32 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize total annual output by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year and weighting the angles based on actual solar irradiance data.

Local Environmental Factors

Several environmental and weather factors in the Abingdon area could potentially impact solar energy production:

• Appalachian Mountain Weather Patterns: The region's location in the Appalachian Mountains can create unpredictable weather conditions, including frequent cloud cover, fog, and atmospheric moisture that reduces solar irradiance.
• Coal Dust and Industrial Particulates: Southwest Virginia's historical coal mining and industrial activities may contribute to airborne particles that can accumulate on solar panels, reducing their efficiency.
• Deciduous Forest Coverage: The heavily forested terrain typical of this region means that shading from nearby trees, particularly during leaf-on seasons, could significantly impact solar installations.
• Winter Weather Conditions: Snow accumulation, ice formation, and extended periods of overcast skies during winter months can further reduce the already limited winter solar output.

Preventative Measures for Enhanced Production

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies should be considered:

• Strategic Site Selection: Choose installation locations with maximum southern exposure and minimal tree shading, conducting thorough shade analysis throughout different seasons before installation.
• Regular Cleaning Schedule: Implement a routine panel cleaning program to remove dust, pollen, and other particulates that accumulate more readily in this region.
• Proper Panel Spacing: Design arrays with adequate spacing between panel rows to prevent self-shading and allow for snow shedding during winter months.
• Quality Mounting Systems: Use robust mounting systems designed to handle snow loads and allow panels to be positioned at the optimal 32-degree angle while ensuring proper drainage.
• Tree Management: Consider selective tree trimming or removal where feasible to eliminate shading issues, particularly focusing on deciduous trees that may grow to obstruct panels over time.

Overall, while Abingdon's location offers reasonable solar potential during warmer months, the significant winter production drop and regional environmental factors require careful planning and ongoing maintenance to achieve optimal solar energy generation 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 Abingdon

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 36.6912, Longitude: -82.0186 (Abingdon, 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 32° South in Abingdon, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Abingdon, United States (Lat/Long 36.6912, -82.0186) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 32° 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 Abingdon, 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 Abingdon, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 32° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
20° South in Summer	41° South in Autumn	52° South in Winter	30° 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 Abingdon, 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 Abingdon, 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 Abingdon, United States

Topographical Features of the Abingdon Region

The area surrounding Abingdon in southwestern Virginia is characterized by the distinctive rolling hills and valleys of the Appalachian Mountain region. This landscape sits within the Great Appalachian Valley, also known locally as the Valley of Virginia, which runs northeast to southwest through the state. The terrain features a series of parallel ridges and valleys that create a undulating topography with elevations typically ranging from around 2,000 to 3,500 feet above sea level. The immediate vicinity of Abingdon lies in a relatively broad valley floor, with the town itself positioned at a moderate elevation that provides good drainage while remaining sheltered by surrounding ridgelines. The landscape is punctuated by numerous small streams and tributaries that flow toward larger waterways, creating a network of gentle valleys between the higher elevations. These waterways have carved out flat to gently sloping bottomlands over thousands of years. The ridgelines in the area generally run in a northeast-southwest orientation, following the typical Appalachian grain. Between these ridges lie valleys of varying widths, some quite narrow and others opening into broader expanses of relatively flat or gently rolling terrain. The slopes between valley floors and ridge tops are often moderate rather than extremely steep, though some areas do feature more dramatic elevation changes.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most promising locations for extensive solar photovoltaic installations in the Abingdon area would be the broader valley floors and gently sloping hillsides with southern exposure. These areas offer the combination of relatively flat terrain that minimizes construction costs and grading requirements while providing good solar access throughout the day. The wider valley bottoms, particularly those running east-west, present excellent opportunities for large-scale solar farms. These locations typically feature minimal slope variations and have been historically used for agriculture, indicating soil stability and good drainage characteristics. The flat to gently rolling nature of these valley floors allows for efficient panel layout and maintenance access while reducing the complexity of mounting systems. South-facing slopes with gradients between 5 and 15 degrees could also prove highly suitable for solar development. These naturally tilted surfaces can actually enhance solar collection efficiency compared to completely flat installations, while the moderate slope prevents excessive runoff issues and maintains reasonable construction feasibility. Areas where these south-facing slopes extend over substantial acreage without significant interruption from streams or steep terrain changes would be particularly valuable. The broader agricultural areas surrounding Abingdon, where the valley widens and the terrain becomes more gently undulating, represent prime candidates for solar development. These locations often feature large contiguous parcels of land with minimal tree coverage and existing road access, reducing both development costs and environmental impact. The established agricultural use of these areas also suggests soil conditions and drainage patterns that would support solar infrastructure. Ridge tops and areas with significant tree coverage would generally be less suitable for large-scale installations due to access challenges, potential shading issues, and higher development costs associated with steep terrain and vegetation removal.

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.