Solar PV Analysis of Decatur, United States
Decatur, Georgia, located in the Northern Sub Tropics of the United States, is a fairly good location for year-round solar energy production. The amount of electricity you can generate from solar power changes with the seasons. In Summer and Spring, you can expect to produce around 6.21kWh/day and 6.06kWh/day respectively per kW of installed solar panels. During Autumn and Winter, this drops to about 4.54kWh/day and 2.84kWh/day respectively.
This means that your best times for generating solar power are in Spring and Summer when there's more sunlight available throughout the day; however, even during Autumn and Winter months, you'll still be able to generate a decent amount of electricity.
If you're installing fixed panels at this location it's recommended that they are tilted at an angle of 30 degrees facing South to maximize total year-round production from your solar PV system.
There could be some local factors that may affect your ability to produce solar energy in Decatur though these aren't significant enough to discourage installation altogether.
For instance, weather conditions like heavy cloud cover or rain can reduce sunlight exposure which would lower your energy output on those days but remember that these events are usually temporary. Also because Decatur experiences all four seasons there will be periods where daylight hours are shorter resulting in less potential for generation but again this is balanced out by longer daylight hours during other parts of the year.
To mitigate these issues consider installing a larger system so it generates excess power on sunny days which can offset lower production on cloudy or rainy ones; also ensure regular maintenance such as cleaning off any dust or debris from your panels which could block sunlight thus reducing their efficiency.
In summary while not perfect Decatur is still a very viable location for harnessing solar energy provided one takes into account seasonal variations and maintains their installation properly.
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 Decatur
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.7657, Longitude: -84.2951 (Decatur, 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 30° South in Decatur, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Decatur, United States (Lat/Long 33.7657, -84.2951) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 30° 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 Decatur, 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 Decatur, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 30° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18° South in Summer | 39° South in Autumn | 49° South in Winter | 26° 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 Decatur, 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 Decatur, 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 Decatur, United States
Decatur is located in Georgia, United States. The topography of Decatur and its surrounding areas is primarily flat to gently rolling, with some low hills. This area forms part of the Piedmont Plateau that stretches across central Georgia. The region has a mix of urban and suburban land use, with some rural farmland in the wider vicinity.
The suitability for large-scale solar PV installations depends on several factors including sunlight exposure (solar irradiance), land availability and usage, proximity to transmission lines, local regulations and policies etc.
Given these considerations:
1) Rural Farmlands: Large tracts of open farmland around Decatur could be suitable for large-scale solar projects due to their abundant sun exposure and relatively unobstructed terrain.
2) Unused Industrial Land: If available, this could also be a good option given its typically flat terrain and lack of shading structures.
3) Rooftops: In the more urban/suburban parts of Decatur itself or nearby Atlanta city center, commercial or industrial rooftops could potentially host smaller scale distributed solar PV systems.
4) Brownfield Sites/Landfills: These are often favored for solar developments as they are usually not suitable for other types of development.
5) Near Transmission Lines: Areas close to existing power transmission infrastructure would also have an advantage since it reduces costs associated with connecting the solar farm to the grid.
However specific site assessments would need to be conducted before any definitive conclusions can be made regarding their suitability.
It's important to note that Georgia has been making significant strides in renewable energy production particularly from Solar Photovoltaic (PV). As per National Renewable Energy Laboratory data, Georgia ranks among top 10 states in US in terms of utility-scale electric power sector solar photovoltaic capacity.
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: Friday 7th 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.
