Gordon, Georgia presents a moderately good location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations that potential solar installers should carefully consider.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this Northern Sub Tropical location shows strong performance during warmer months but notable drops in winter. Spring delivers the highest productivity at 6.28kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, followed closely by summer at 6.26kWh per day. However, winter production falls dramatically to just 2.98kWh per day, representing less than half the peak season output. Autumn provides moderate generation at 4.61kWh per day. For optimal year-round energy capture, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 29 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual production by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year and the varying solar irradiance levels at this latitude.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in Gordon, Georgia can significantly impact solar panel performance:

• High humidity and frequent thunderstorms - The subtropical climate brings regular afternoon storms during summer months, temporarily reducing solar output and creating potential maintenance challenges
• Heavy pollen seasons - Georgia's abundant vegetation produces substantial pollen loads in spring and fall, which can coat panels and reduce efficiency
• Occasional severe weather - The region experiences potential ice storms in winter and severe thunderstorms with hail during warmer months
• Dense tree coverage - Many properties in this area have mature trees that can create shading issues

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize solar production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove beneficial. Panels should be mounted with adequate spacing for air circulation to prevent moisture buildup and allow easier cleaning access. Installing panels at the recommended 29-degree tilt helps with natural rain washing and reduces pollen accumulation compared to flatter installations. Consider impact-resistant panels and robust mounting systems designed for wind loads typical of severe thunderstorms. Strategic tree trimming before installation eliminates major shading obstacles, while positioning panels away from the heaviest pollen-producing trees reduces cleaning frequency. Regular maintenance scheduling becomes particularly important in this climate. Plan for more frequent cleaning during peak pollen seasons and after major storms. Installing monitoring systems helps identify performance drops quickly, allowing for prompt maintenance when weather-related issues affect output.

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 Gordon

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 32.8821, Longitude: -83.3324 (Gordon, 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 Gordon, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Gordon, United States (Lat/Long 32.8821, -83.3324) 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 Gordon, 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 Gordon, 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 Gordon, 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 Gordon, 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 Gordon, United States

Topographical Features Around Gordon, Georgia

Gordon, Georgia sits within the gently rolling landscape characteristic of the southeastern United States Coastal Plain region. The terrain around this small community features predominantly flat to gently undulating topography, with elevations typically ranging from approximately 200 to 350 feet above sea level. This area represents part of the broader Fall Line Hills region, where the Piedmont plateau transitions into the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

The landscape is marked by low, rounded hills interspersed with shallow valleys and creek bottoms. Agricultural fields and managed pine forests dominate much of the surrounding countryside, creating an open canopy that allows substantial solar exposure across large areas. The terrain slopes are generally modest, rarely exceeding 5-10 degrees, which makes the region naturally well-suited for ground-mounted solar installations without requiring extensive site preparation or grading.

Several small creeks and tributaries wind through the area, creating narrow floodplains and wetland areas that would need to be avoided for solar development. However, these water features occupy relatively small portions of the overall landscape, leaving extensive areas of well-drained upland terrain available for potential solar projects.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations around Gordon would be the broad, gently sloping upland areas that characterize much of the surrounding landscape. These elevated areas offer several advantages including excellent drainage, minimal flood risk, and typically clear sight lines with minimal shading from topographical features.

The agricultural fields scattered throughout the region present particularly attractive opportunities for solar development. These areas have already been cleared and leveled to some degree, reducing site preparation costs. The existing road infrastructure serving these agricultural areas would also facilitate construction and maintenance access for solar installations.

South-facing slopes, even the gentle ones found in this region, would be especially valuable for solar projects as they naturally optimize panel orientation toward the sun. The relatively open nature of the landscape means that even modest elevation differences can provide advantageous solar exposure without significant shading concerns from adjacent terrain features.

Areas to avoid would include the creek bottoms and associated wetlands, which not only present environmental constraints but also tend to have higher moisture levels and potential flooding issues. Steeper hillsides, while uncommon in this region, would also be less desirable due to increased installation complexity and potential erosion concerns.

The combination of gentle topography, existing cleared land, good drainage characteristics, and accessible terrain makes the Gordon area well-suited for utility-scale solar development across numerous potential sites within a reasonable distance of the community.

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.