Solar PV Analysis of Albemarle, United States
The location at Albemarle, North Carolina is decent for generating solar energy year-round, but it's not perfect. The best times to produce solar energy here are during the summer and spring seasons when the sun shines more intensely and longer throughout the day. In these seasons, you can expect to generate about 6.70 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in summer and 6.10 kWh/day in spring for each kilowatt of installed solar panels.
During autumn and winter, however, the amount of sunlight decreases significantly due to shorter days and lower sun intensity leading to less electricity production - around 4.47 kWh/day in autumn and just 2.81 kWh/day in winter.
For a fixed panel installation at this location, tilting your panels towards south at an angle of approximately 31 degrees would help maximise total yearly output from your solar photovoltaic (PV) system as this position allows them to capture maximum sunlight across different times of the year.
As far as local factors that could potentially impede solar production at this location are concerned there are a few things worth noting:
Firstly, North Carolina does experience some severe weather events such as hurricanes or heavy storms which could damage your installation or reduce its efficiency due to cloud cover or debris on panels.
Secondly, trees or other structures may cast shadows on your panels reducing their effectiveness particularly if they're located towards South where you'll be directing most of your panels.
To mitigate these issues:
1) Ensure that installations are sturdy enough to withstand severe weather conditions.
2) Regular maintenance should include cleaning off any debris collected on the surface of the panels.
3) If possible try locating your installation away from large obstructions like trees or buildings that might block out sunlight particularly towards southern direction where most light will be coming from.
In summary: While not ideal all-year round with significant drop-off in power generation during autumn and winter, Albemarle, NC still offers a reasonable location for solar power generation with right installation and maintenance practices.
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 Albemarle
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 35.3563, Longitude: -80.2048 (Albemarle, 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 31° South in Albemarle, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Albemarle, United States (Lat/Long 35.3563, -80.2048) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 31° 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 Albemarle, 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 Albemarle, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 31° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19° South in Summer | 40° South in Autumn | 51° South in Winter | 28° 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 Albemarle, 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 Albemarle, 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 Albemarle, United States
Albemarle, located in Stanly County, North Carolina, is characterized by a mix of flat and hilly terrain. The region includes a combination of urban areas, forests, and agricultural lands. The Yadkin River runs through the county providing some low-lying river valley areas as well.
For large-scale solar PV installations, generally you need open and relatively flat land for optimal sunlight exposure. In the case of Albemarle and its surroundings:
1) Agricultural Lands: There are several agricultural fields around Albemarle which could be suitable for solar farm development given their flatness and openness.
2) Unused or Underutilized Land: Any unused or underutilized plots with good sun exposure could also be potential sites for solar farm installation.
3) Brownfield Sites: If there are any brownfield sites (previously developed land that's not currently in use), these can also be good candidates for large-scale solar projects since it often helps to avoid conflicts over land use change.
4) Rooftops in Urban Areas: Large rooftops on commercial or industrial buildings within the city can also serve as viable locations for smaller scale but collectively significant photovoltaic installations.
It's important to remember that suitability will depend on a variety of factors including local zoning laws, proximity to power transmission lines (for grid connection), environmental considerations like biodiversity impacts or flood risk etc., so professional site assessment would always be necessary before deciding on specific locations.
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: Sunday 2nd of June 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.
