Solar PV Analysis of Greenville, United States
The location of Greenville, North Carolina is decent for producing solar energy all year round, but it's not perfect. The amount of electricity that can be generated from solar panels changes with the seasons.
In summer and spring, you can expect to generate quite a bit of electricity - around 6.56 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in summer and 6.09 kWh/day in spring for every kilowatt (kW) of solar installed at your place. This means that if you have more kW installed, you'll get more kWh produced.
However, in autumn and winter the output drops significantly due to shorter daylight hours and less intense sunlight - down to about 4.51 kWh/day in autumn and even lower to around 2.84 kWh/day in winter per kW installed.
For optimal results throughout the year at this location, it's recommended that your fixed panel installation is tilted at an angle of 31 degrees facing southward.
Now let's talk about potential local factors that could affect your solar production here:
1) Weather: Greenville has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and cool winters which can sometimes include snowfall or ice storms which may obstruct the panels temporarily.
Preventative measure: Regular cleaning/maintenance will help keep panels clear from debris/snow/ice ensuring maximum sunlight absorption.
2) Cloud cover: Overcast days are common especially during late fall/winter months reducing sunlight exposure.
Preventative measure: No real solution for this issue as we cannot control weather conditions; however having battery storage system will allow storing excess power generated on sunny days for use when it’s cloudy or dark.
3) Trees/Shade: If there are tall trees or buildings nearby they could cast shadows on your panels reducing their effectiveness.
Preventive Measure: Positioning/installing the panels where they won't be shaded by trees/buildings most part of the day would be ideal.
In summary, while Greenville is not the most ideal location for solar energy production due to seasonal variations and potential weather-related challenges, with proper installation and maintenance, it can still be a viable source of renewable energy.
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 Greenville
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 35.6206, Longitude: -77.3944 (Greenville, 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 Greenville, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Greenville, United States (Lat/Long 35.6206, -77.3944) 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 Greenville, 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 Greenville, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20° South in Summer | 40° South in Autumn | 51° South in Winter | 28° 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 Greenville, 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 Greenville, 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 Greenville, United States
Greenville, North Carolina is located in the Coastal Plain region of the state. The topography of this area is generally flat to gently rolling, making it ideal for agriculture. The region has a mix of forested and cleared land.
For large-scale solar PV installations, open and cleared lands are more suitable as they require significant amount of space. Areas with minimal shading (like tall buildings or trees) would be most efficient for solar energy production. In Greenville's case, farmlands or other open areas away from the city center could be ideal locations.
However, before deciding on a location for such an installation, several factors need to be considered including local zoning laws and regulations, proximity to power grids for easy transmission of electricity generated by the solar panels, and potential environmental impacts.
Moreover, North Carolina has been encouraging renewable energy developments so there might already exist some incentives or policies that may benefit such projects in certain areas around Greenville.
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 17th of May 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.
