Solar Energy Potential in Barnesville, Georgia

Barnesville, Georgia, located in the Northern Sub Tropics at coordinates 33.0457, -84.1515, offers a reasonably good location for solar PV energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations. This location experiences strong solar production during summer and spring, with moderate autumn output and notably reduced winter generation.

Seasonal Solar Production

The solar electricity output at this location varies considerably throughout the year:

• Summer: 6.21 kWh per day per kW installed (excellent production)
• Spring: 6.04 kWh per day per kW installed (very good production)
• Autumn: 4.49 kWh per day per kW installed (moderate production)
• Winter: 2.78 kWh per day per kW installed (limited production)

This pattern shows that Barnesville experiences its peak solar generation potential during the warmer months, with summer and spring being particularly productive seasons. The significant drop in winter production (less than half of summer values) indicates a challenge for year-round consistency.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Barnesville, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 29 degrees facing South. This angle has been calculated by analyzing the sun's position throughout the year and weighting the optimal daily angles according to the solar irradiance potential at this specific location.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several factors could potentially impact solar production in Barnesville:

Humidity and Cloud Cover

Georgia's humid subtropical climate means that Barnesville experiences periods of high humidity and cloud cover, particularly during summer thunderstorm season and winter rainy periods. These conditions can temporarily reduce solar efficiency. Installing panels with good performance in diffuse light conditions can help mitigate this issue.

Tree Coverage

The region has significant tree coverage, which could create shading issues. Careful site selection, tree trimming, or using microinverters/power optimizers can help minimize production losses from partial shading.

Dust and Pollen

Georgia's abundant vegetation produces significant pollen, particularly in spring, which can accumulate on panels. Additionally, the region's red clay soil can create dust issues. Implementing a regular cleaning schedule and installing panels at the recommended 29-degree tilt (which helps with natural cleaning during rainfall) can maintain optimal production.

Severe Weather

The area occasionally experiences severe thunderstorms and the peripheral effects of hurricanes. Installing robust mounting systems designed to withstand high winds and using quality hail-resistant panels provides protection against these weather events. Overall, Barnesville offers good solar potential, especially during spring and summer, though winter production will be significantly lower. With proper installation considerations addressing the regional environmental factors, solar PV can be a viable energy source at this location.

Note: The Northern Sub Tropics extend from 23.5° latitude North up to 35° 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 Barnesville

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.0457, Longitude: -84.1515 (Barnesville, 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 29° South in Barnesville, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Barnesville, United States (Lat/Long 33.0457, -84.1515) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 29° 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 Barnesville, 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 Barnesville, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 29° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
17° South in Summer	38° South in Autumn	48° South in Winter	25° 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 Barnesville, 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 Barnesville, 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 Barnesville, United States

The topography around Barnesville, Georgia, is characterized by gently rolling hills and modest valleys typical of the Piedmont region of the southeastern United States. Situated approximately 60 miles south of Atlanta, Barnesville rests at an elevation of around 850 feet above sea level. The landscape features a pleasant mix of open fields, wooded areas, and small streams that create a varied terrain throughout the region. The Piedmont Plateau, where Barnesville is located, serves as a transitional zone between the Appalachian Mountains to the north and the Coastal Plain to the south. This geographical positioning gives the area its distinctive undulating topography. The soil composition tends toward red clay, which is characteristic of this part of Georgia, with occasional rocky outcroppings visible in certain locations.

Surrounding Landscape Features

To the north and northwest of Barnesville, the terrain becomes slightly more pronounced with higher elevations and steeper slopes as it transitions toward the foothills of the Appalachian range. Moving south and southeast, the landscape gradually flattens as it approaches the Coastal Plain region of Georgia. Several small waterways dissect the area, including tributaries of the Flint River basin. These create natural valleys and drainage patterns throughout the region. The combination of modest elevation changes and these water features has historically shaped the development patterns of the area, with settlements and agricultural activities adapting to the natural contours of the land.

Potential Areas for Solar PV Development

When considering large-scale solar photovoltaic installation potential near Barnesville, several factors related to the topography make certain areas particularly suitable. The gently sloping terrain to the south and southwest of Barnesville offers ideal conditions for solar development. These areas feature cleared agricultural lands with southern exposures that maximize solar collection potential throughout the day. The relatively flat plateaus found between the rolling hills provide excellent opportunities for large contiguous solar arrays without requiring extensive grading or earth-moving operations. These level areas, particularly those that have previously been used for agriculture, present fewer environmental concerns for development while offering the necessary space for commercial-scale installations. Areas to avoid would include the more steeply sloped terrain to the north, as well as locations near waterways that might be subject to flooding or erosion concerns. Additionally, heavily forested sections would require significant clearing, making them less economically and environmentally suitable for solar development. The eastern portions of Lamar County, where Barnesville is located, contain several expanses of former agricultural land that combine favorable topography with proximity to existing electrical infrastructure. These areas present particularly promising opportunities for solar development, with minimal shadowing from terrain features and good drainage characteristics that help prevent equipment damage from water accumulation. In conclusion, while the entire region around Barnesville features a moderately varied topography, the gently rolling nature of the Piedmont landscape provides numerous suitable locations for solar development, particularly in the south and southwestern sectors where terrain, existing land use, and infrastructure access combine to create favorable conditions for large-scale solar PV installations.

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.