Harriman, Tennessee, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a moderately favorable environment for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. The location's potential for solar power production varies significantly across seasons, with peak performance during the summer months.

Seasonal Solar Output

Summer stands out as the most productive season, with an impressive daily output of 6.39 kWh per kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely behind, generating 5.73 kWh/day. Autumn sees a noticeable decrease in production, yielding 4.18 kWh/day. Winter experiences the lowest output at 2.52 kWh/day, highlighting the considerable seasonal variation in this region.

Optimal Panel Positioning

For fixed panel installations in Harriman, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round solar production is 31 degrees facing South. This angle optimizes the panels' exposure to sunlight throughout the year, accounting for the Earth's elliptical orbit and the location's specific latitude.

Environmental Considerations

While Harriman's location is generally suitable for solar energy production, there are some environmental factors to consider. The area experiences a humid subtropical climate, which can present challenges for solar installations.

Frequent cloud cover, especially during the winter months, can reduce solar efficiency. To mitigate this, high-efficiency panels and micro-inverters can be used to maximize energy capture even in less-than-ideal conditions. Additionally, regular panel cleaning is essential to remove pollen, dust, and other debris that may accumulate due to the humid environment.

Harriman's location in the Tennessee Valley also means it can experience severe weather events, including thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes. Robust mounting systems and impact-resistant panels should be considered to protect the installation from potential damage during extreme weather events.

Conclusion

Overall, Harriman, Tennessee provides a reasonably good location for solar PV energy generation, particularly from late spring through early fall. While winter months see a significant drop in production, the annual average remains favorable for solar investment. With proper installation techniques and equipment choices, many of the potential environmental challenges can be effectively managed, ensuring optimal solar energy production throughout the year.

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 Harriman

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 35.934, Longitude: -84.5524 (Harriman, 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 Harriman, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Harriman, United States (Lat/Long 35.934, -84.5524) 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 Harriman, 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 Harriman, 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
19° South in Summer	41° 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 Harriman, 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 Harriman, 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 Harriman, United States

The topography around Harriman, Tennessee in the United States is characterized by rolling hills, valleys, and forested areas typical of the Appalachian region. The city is situated in a valley between two ridges of the Cumberland Plateau, with elevations ranging from about 800 to 1,200 feet above sea level. The surrounding landscape features a mix of gently sloping terrain and steeper hillsides, with numerous small streams and creeks cutting through the area. The Emory River flows near Harriman, adding to the varied topography and creating some low-lying floodplain areas. The region's geology is primarily composed of sedimentary rocks, including sandstone, shale, and limestone, which have been shaped over millions of years by erosion and tectonic activity.

Potential for Large-Scale Solar PV

When considering areas nearby that would be most suited to large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, several factors come into play. The ideal locations would be relatively flat or gently sloping areas with good sun exposure and minimal shading from surrounding hills or forests. Some of the most promising areas for solar PV development near Harriman would likely be found in the broader valleys and on the plateaus to the west and northwest of the city. These areas tend to have more open, less forested terrain that could accommodate large solar arrays. Former agricultural lands or reclaimed mining sites in the region might also offer suitable locations for solar development. However, it's important to note that the overall topography of the area presents some challenges for large-scale solar installations. The prevalence of hills and forests means that finding extensive, uninterrupted flat areas may be difficult. Developers would need to carefully survey potential sites to ensure optimal sun exposure and minimal environmental impact. Additionally, any solar project would need to consider factors beyond topography, such as proximity to existing electrical infrastructure, local zoning regulations, and environmental considerations. While the region around Harriman may not be ideal for the largest utility-scale solar farms, there could still be significant potential for smaller to medium-sized solar installations that can take advantage of suitable local terrain.

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.