Solar Energy Potential in Dothan, Alabama

Dothan, Alabama, located in the Northern Sub Tropics at coordinates 31.2653, -85.3992, offers a promising location for solar PV energy generation throughout the year, though with seasonal variations in output. The solar energy production potential in Dothan demonstrates significant seasonal fluctuations. During Spring, this location reaches its peak performance with an impressive 6.29 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Summer follows closely with 6.25 kWh/day. Autumn sees a moderate decrease to 4.75 kWh/day, while Winter represents the lowest production period with 3.01 kWh/day per installed kilowatt. For residents and businesses considering fixed solar panel installations in Dothan, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 27 degrees facing South. This specific angle has been calculated to optimize solar collection across all seasons, taking into account the location's latitude and seasonal sun positions.

Seasonal Considerations

Spring and Summer represent the prime solar harvesting seasons in Dothan, making March through August particularly advantageous for solar energy generation. During these months, longer days and more direct sunlight create optimal conditions for solar PV systems. The substantial drop in Winter production (less than half of Spring output) indicates that supplementary energy sources might be beneficial during the December-February period, especially for those aiming for complete energy independence.

Environmental and Weather Factors

Several local factors could potentially impact solar production in Dothan. The region experiences humid subtropical weather with occasional severe storms, particularly during hurricane season. Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms can temporarily reduce solar output, though these effects are typically short-lived. Another consideration is Dothan's vegetation. The area's abundant tree growth can cast shadows on solar installations if not properly accounted for during system design. Regular tree maintenance around solar arrays is recommended. To maximize production despite these challenges, preventative measures include:

• Installing panels with sufficient elevation to minimize potential shading from surrounding trees and structures
• Using micro-inverters or power optimizers to reduce the impact of partial shading
• Implementing robust mounting systems designed to withstand severe weather events
• Scheduling regular cleaning maintenance to address pollen accumulation, particularly during Spring when pine pollen is abundant in the region

With proper system design and maintenance, Dothan's location offers a favorable environment for solar energy production, especially during the Spring and Summer months when output exceeds 6 kWh per day for each kilowatt installed.

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 Dothan

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 31.2653, Longitude: -85.3992 (Dothan, 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 27° South in Dothan, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Dothan, United States (Lat/Long 31.2653, -85.3992) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 27° 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 Dothan, 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 Dothan, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 27° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
15° South in Summer	37° South in Autumn	46° South in Winter	24° 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 Dothan, 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 Dothan, 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 Dothan, United States

Dothan, Alabama is situated in the southeastern corner of the state, in what is known as the Wiregrass region. The landscape around Dothan is characterized by gently rolling hills with modest elevation changes, typically ranging between 200 and 400 feet above sea level. This topography is part of the broader Gulf Coastal Plain, which extends through much of the southeastern United States. The terrain features a mix of open agricultural fields, pine forests, and hardwood stands, particularly along the numerous creeks and small rivers that crisscross the area. The soil composition tends toward sandy loams, a legacy of this region's geological history when it was once covered by ancient seas. This creates generally well-drained conditions across much of the landscape.

Water Features

Several small waterways meander through the Dothan area, including Cowarts Creek, Little Choctawhatchee River, and Beaver Creek. These waterways have carved subtle valleys into the otherwise gentle landscape. The city itself sits on a slight ridge, which historically provided natural drainage advantages for early settlement. The region lacks major lakes or large bodies of water immediately adjacent to Dothan, though man-made reservoirs and farm ponds dot the countryside. Approximately 75 miles south lies the Gulf of Mexico, which influences the area's climate but does not directly affect its topography.

Suitable Areas for Solar PV Development

For large-scale solar photovoltaic installations, the most promising areas near Dothan would be the agricultural lands that surround the city in nearly all directions. These areas offer several advantages: The cleared farmland to the north and west of Dothan presents particularly favorable conditions for solar development. These areas feature relatively flat terrain with gentle slopes, minimizing the need for extensive grading during construction. The open fields provide ample space for arrays without requiring forest clearing, which reduces environmental impact and development costs. Former agricultural lands that may be less productive for farming could be ideal candidates for solar conversion. In particular, the areas along Highway 231 north toward Ozark and along Highway 84 west toward Enterprise offer expansive open spaces with good road access for construction and maintenance. The slightly elevated ridges throughout Houston County also present opportunities, as they typically receive minimal shadowing from surrounding features. Areas to the southeast of the city, extending toward the Florida state line, include cleared lands with favorable solar exposure conditions.

Topographical Considerations

While the Wiregrass region is generally conducive to solar development, certain topographical features warrant consideration. The low-lying areas near streams and creeks may be subject to occasional flooding and would typically be avoided for solar installations. These riparian zones often have higher tree density as well, which would require more extensive site preparation. The modest hills throughout the region rarely present slopes steep enough to complicate solar array installation, though some north-facing inclines would be less optimal for maximizing solar exposure. South-facing gentle slopes, by contrast, would offer slightly enhanced performance for fixed-tilt systems. The sandy soil composition in many areas provides good drainage characteristics, which can reduce the risk of erosion and water accumulation around foundations and support structures. However, proper geotechnical assessment would still be necessary to ensure stability for the mounting systems. Overall, the topography around Dothan presents few significant barriers to large-scale solar development, with abundant suitable land within a 30-mile radius of the city center.

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

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.