Grenada, Mississippi, located in the Northern Sub Tropics at coordinates 33.7731, -89.8079, offers reasonably good conditions for solar PV energy generation throughout the year, though with significant seasonal variations. The location experiences strong solar production in summer and spring, with moderate output in autumn and substantially reduced performance during winter months.

The seasonal breakdown of electricity production per kilowatt of installed solar capacity shows this variation clearly. Summer leads with 6.35kWh/day, followed closely by spring at 5.83kWh/day. Autumn sees a moderate decrease to 4.59kWh/day, while winter production drops significantly to 2.68kWh/day.

Optimal Installation Angle

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

Seasonal Considerations

The most productive periods for solar generation in Grenada occur from late spring through early autumn (roughly May through September). During these months, longer days and more direct sunlight result in substantially higher energy output. The winter months (December through February) show the lowest production, with less than half the daily output compared to summer.

Environmental and Weather Factors

Several environmental factors could potentially impact solar production at this location:

• Humidity and occasional fog in the Mississippi region can reduce solar efficiency, particularly during morning hours
• Seasonal thunderstorms and severe weather events, including possible tornadoes, may temporarily disrupt production
• Tree coverage and vegetation growth common in this subtropical region could create shading issues if not properly managed
• Dust and pollen accumulation, especially during spring and summer, can gradually decrease panel efficiency

Preventative Measures

To maximize solar production despite these challenges, several installation and maintenance practices are recommended. Careful site selection to minimize shading from trees and structures is essential. Installing panels with sufficient elevation can reduce the impact of morning fog and potential flooding concerns. Regular cleaning schedules, particularly after pollen season or dust storms, will maintain optimal efficiency.

Additionally, considering microinverters or power optimizers rather than string inverters can help minimize production losses when partial shading occurs. Weather-resistant mounting systems designed to withstand severe storms will ensure system longevity in this region prone to occasional extreme weather.

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 Grenada

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.7731, Longitude: -89.8079 (Grenada, 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 Grenada, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Grenada, United States (Lat/Long 33.7731, -89.8079) 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 Grenada, 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 Grenada, 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
18° South in Summer	38° 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 Grenada, 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 Grenada, 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 Grenada, United States

The topography around Grenada, Mississippi, is characterized by gently rolling hills and valleys, typical of the region's transition between the Mississippi Alluvial Plain to the west and the North Central Hills to the east. The landscape features a mix of agricultural fields, forested areas, and small waterways that contribute to the area's rural character. Grenada sits at an elevation of approximately 200-300 feet above sea level, with modest variations in the surrounding terrain. The land gradually rises as one moves eastward toward the North Central Hills, while it becomes flatter heading west toward the Delta region. This transitional zone creates a landscape with subtle but noticeable changes in elevation.

Water Features

One of the dominant topographical features near Grenada is Grenada Lake, a large reservoir located just northeast of the city. Created by the damming of the Yalobusha River, this substantial body of water influences the local topography and creates shorelines with varying elevations. The Yalobusha River and its tributaries have carved shallow valleys throughout the region, creating natural drainage patterns that segment the landscape.

Vegetation and Land Use

The region's natural vegetation consists primarily of mixed hardwood forests interspersed with pine stands, though much of the land has been cleared for agricultural use. The remaining forested areas tend to occupy steeper slopes and riparian zones along streams and rivers, while flatter areas have been converted to farmland, pastures, or developed for residential and commercial purposes.

Solar PV Potential Areas

For large-scale solar photovoltaic development, several areas around Grenada present favorable conditions. The most suitable locations would be: The gently sloping agricultural lands to the south and southwest of Grenada offer large, contiguous parcels with minimal shading concerns. These areas feature relatively flat terrain that has already been cleared for farming, reducing site preparation costs and environmental impact. The slight southern orientation of many of these slopes provides an optimal angle for solar collection. Areas east of Grenada, where the terrain begins to rise into the North Central Hills, contain numerous elevated plateaus and broad ridgetops that could accommodate substantial solar installations. These higher elevations often experience less fog and ground-level haze than the lowlands, potentially increasing solar efficiency. Former agricultural lands that have been left fallow present opportunities for solar development without disrupting active farming operations. Several such areas exist in a ring around Grenada, particularly to the northwest and southeast, where soil conditions have made farming less profitable over time. The regions west of Grenada, as the land transitions toward the Delta, become increasingly flat and open. These areas offer extensive tracts of land with minimal topographical challenges for solar array installation, though drainage considerations would need to be addressed due to the lower elevation. Areas with proximity to existing electrical infrastructure, particularly along major transportation corridors like Interstate 55 and Highway 51, provide advantages for grid connection. The relatively flat terrain along these corridors, combined with existing rights-of-way, makes them attractive for solar development despite occasional shading from highway-adjacent woodlands. The terrain around Grenada generally avoids extreme topographical challenges that would complicate large-scale solar development. The modest hills rarely present slopes steep enough to significantly complicate construction or maintenance of solar arrays, and the region experiences minimal risk of landslides or other geological instabilities that might threaten infrastructure.

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.