Longs, South Carolina, located in the Northern Sub Tropics at coordinates 33.9385, -78.7331, offers a reasonably good location for year-round solar energy generation, though with notable seasonal variations in output.

Seasonal Solar Production Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows strong performance during warmer months and reduced efficiency in winter. Summer produces the highest output at 6.46kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, while spring follows closely with 6.42kWh per day per kW. These two seasons represent the optimal times for solar generation at this location. Autumn sees a moderate decline to 4.53kWh per day per kW, while winter drops significantly to 2.93kWh per day per kW - less than half the summer production. This seasonal variation is typical for locations at this latitude in the Northern Sub Tropics.

Optimal Panel Installation

For maximum year-round energy production at Longs, South Carolina, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 30 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize total annual solar output by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year and weighting the angles based on actual solar irradiance data.

Local Environmental Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in this coastal South Carolina location can impact solar energy production:

• Hurricane and severe weather risk: The area is susceptible to hurricanes and tropical storms, which can damage solar installations
• High humidity and salt air: Proximity to the coast means panels face corrosive salt air and high humidity levels
• Frequent thunderstorms: Summer months bring regular afternoon thunderstorms that can temporarily reduce output and pose lightning risks
• Pollen and organic debris: Heavy pollen seasons and falling leaves can coat panels and reduce efficiency

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several protective measures should be implemented during installation: Hurricane-rated mounting systems and panels designed to withstand high winds are essential. Choose equipment certified for coastal environments that can resist salt corrosion, and ensure all electrical components have proper weatherproof sealing. Regular maintenance becomes crucial in this environment. Establish a cleaning schedule to remove pollen, debris, and salt buildup from panel surfaces. Install proper drainage systems to prevent water accumulation, and consider surge protection devices to guard against lightning damage. Proper grounding and lightning protection systems are particularly important given the frequent thunderstorm activity. Select panels with anti-reflective coatings that also resist environmental degradation, and ensure adequate spacing between panels for air circulation to combat humidity effects.

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 Longs

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.9385, Longitude: -78.7331 (Longs, 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 30° South in Longs, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Longs, United States (Lat/Long 33.9385, -78.7331) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 30° 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 Longs, 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 Longs, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 30° 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	39° 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 Longs, 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 Longs, 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 Longs, United States

Topographical Features Around Longs, South Carolina

The area surrounding Longs, South Carolina is characterized by relatively flat, low-lying terrain typical of the Atlantic Coastal Plain region. This small community sits at an elevation of approximately 30 feet above sea level, positioned inland from the popular Grand Strand coastal area. The landscape consists primarily of gentle, rolling hills with minimal elevation changes, creating an expansive and open environment that extends across much of Horry County. The topography is dominated by sandy soils and pine forests, interspersed with agricultural fields and residential developments. Small creeks and tributaries meander through the area, creating subtle valleys and drainage patterns, but these waterways do not significantly alter the overall flat character of the terrain. The absence of major hills, mountains, or other significant topographical obstacles means that shadow interference from natural features would be minimal throughout most of the year.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The flat to gently rolling topography around Longs presents excellent opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The most suitable areas would be the expansive agricultural fields and cleared lands that dot the landscape, particularly those oriented on slight southern-facing slopes where they exist. These open spaces provide the necessary acreage for utility-scale solar farms while minimizing the need for extensive land preparation or grading. Former agricultural properties and fallow farmland represent prime candidates for solar development, as they typically offer large contiguous parcels with existing road access and proximity to electrical infrastructure. The sandy soil composition, while requiring appropriate foundation design, generally provides good drainage and stable ground conditions for solar panel mounting systems. Areas to the west and southwest of Longs would be particularly advantageous, as they tend to have fewer residential developments and more open agricultural space. The relatively sparse tree coverage in these cleared areas eliminates concerns about shading from vegetation, while the flat terrain allows for optimal panel orientation and spacing. Additionally, the proximity to existing power transmission lines that serve the growing Myrtle Beach metropolitan area makes grid interconnection more feasible and cost-effective for large solar installations. The consistent topography throughout the region means that developers would have multiple viable options for siting large-scale solar projects, with the primary considerations being land availability, zoning regulations, and proximity to transmission infrastructure rather than challenging terrain features.

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.