Solar PV Analysis of Barling, United States
Barling, Arkansas is a decent location for year-round solar energy production, but it's not the most ideal. The amount of electricity that can be produced from solar panels varies throughout the year. During summer and spring, there's more sunlight so you can expect to generate more electricity - around 6.86 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in summer and 5.25 kWh/day in spring for each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power.
However, during autumn and winter when days are shorter and there's less sunlight, the output drops significantly to about 4.55 kWh/day in autumn and as low as 2.69 kWh/day in winter per kW of installed solar power.
To maximize your total yearly solar production at this location, you'd want to tilt your panels at an angle of approximately 31 degrees facing South if they're fixed installations.
As for environmental or local factors that could affect your solar production – Barling is located within Tornado Alley so severe weather events like tornadoes or hail storms could potentially damage your installation or reduce its efficiency by blocking sunlight with debris or clouds.
There might also be periods of heavy snowfall during winter which can cover up the panels reducing their efficiency until cleared off - although this isn't typically a major issue since snow usually melts quickly due to heat produced by the panel itself.
To mitigate these risks:
1) Consider installing durable panels designed to withstand extreme weather conditions.
2) Regular maintenance checks will allow early detection and repair of any damages caused by harsh weather.
3) Installations should be cleaned regularly especially after storms to remove any debris that may block sunlight.
4) If possible, consider adjustable mountings that allow changing panel angles throughout the year for optimum exposure to sun rays.
5) In case of frequent heavy snowfalls during winter months, consider using automated cleaning systems designed specifically for clearing off snow from PV modules without causing any damage.
In summary, while Barling, Arkansas has its challenges for solar power generation due to seasonal variations and potential weather-related issues, with proper planning and precautions, it can still be a viable location 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 Barling
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 35.3281, Longitude: -94.3004 (Barling, 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 Barling, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Barling, United States (Lat/Long 35.3281, -94.3004) 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 Barling, 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 Barling, 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 | 29° 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 Barling, 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 Barling, 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 Barling, United States
Barling is located in the state of Arkansas, United States. The topography around Barling is generally flat to gently rolling, with some areas of moderate hills. It's part of the greater Fort Smith area and lies near the Arkansas River which adds some variation to the landscape.
The region has a mix of forested areas, farmland, and urban development. The climate is humid subtropical characterized by hot summers and mild winters.
For large-scale solar PV installations, open and flat regions are preferable as they allow for easier installation and maintenance while maximizing exposure to sunlight. Therefore, unused farmlands or open fields would be most suitable for such projects in this area.
However, it's important to conduct a detailed site assessment considering factors like local climate patterns (solar irradiance), land availability & cost, proximity to transmission lines or substations etc., before deciding on a location for large scale solar PV project.
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: Sunday 9th of June 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
Tell Us About Your Work
We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.
Feeling generous?
Share this with your friends!
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.
