Solar PV Analysis of Longview, United States
Longview, Texas is a decent place to generate solar energy year-round. However, the amount of electricity that can be produced varies throughout the seasons. During summer and spring, you can expect to generate more power - around 6.84 and 5.36 kilowatt-hours per day for each kilowatt of installed solar panels respectively. This is because these seasons typically have longer daylight hours and clearer skies.
On the other hand, during autumn and winter, the output drops to about 4.77 and 2.80 kilowatt-hours per day for each kilowatt of installed solar panels respectively due to shorter days and potentially cloudier weather.
So if you're planning on generating solar energy in Longview, Texas, it would be best to maximize your production during spring and especially summer when sunlight is abundant.
For optimal results with a fixed panel installation at this location, it's recommended that panels are tilted at an angle of 28 degrees facing South as this will maximize total year-round production from your solar photovoltaic system.
As far as environmental or local factors that could impede solar production in Longview go; weather conditions such as heavy rainfalls or snow might temporarily reduce output by blocking sunlight but these instances should not significantly affect overall annual yield given the region's predominantly warm climate with plenty of sunny days.
To ensure greater energy production despite these potential obstacles; regular maintenance including cleaning off any debris like leaves or dust from your panels can help maintain their efficiency level high over time while installing them in areas without shade obstruction will also enhance their performance further still.
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 Longview
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 32.5532, Longitude: -94.7755 (Longview, 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 28° South in Longview, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Longview, United States (Lat/Long 32.5532, -94.7755) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 28° 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 Longview, 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 Longview, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 28° 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 | 37° South in Autumn | 48° 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 Longview, 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 Longview, 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 Longview, United States
Longview, Texas is located in the northeastern part of the state and is characterized by a relatively flat topography with gently rolling hills. The area is part of the Piney Woods region, which features a mix of pine-hardwood forest and prairie. There are also several bodies of water nearby including Lake O' The Pines and Caddo Lake.
For large-scale solar PV installations, areas with flat or slightly sloping terrain would be most suitable to allow for maximum sunlight exposure and ease of installation. Given Longview's topography, there could potentially be many suitable sites for such installations.
However, it's important to note that suitability for solar PV also depends on other factors like local climate (amount of sunlight received), land use restrictions, proximity to electrical grid infrastructure etc. For instance, although Longview gets plenty of sun throughout the year making it good for solar power generation in terms of insolation levels; if a potential site is heavily forested or used for other purposes (like agriculture or residential), it may not be feasible to install solar panels there.
In general though, open fields or unused farmland around Longview could potentially make good sites for large-scale solar PV installations. As always before proceeding with any such project thorough feasibility studies including environmental impact assessments should be conducted.
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!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Sunday 7th of April 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
Tell Us About Your Work
We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.
Feeling generous?
Share this with your friends!
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.
