North Little Rock, Arkansas, located in the Northern Sub Tropics, offers a moderately good location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations that potential solar installers should carefully consider.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows strong seasonal patterns. Summer delivers the highest production at 6.72 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the peak season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best performing season with 5.41 kWh per day per kW, while autumn drops to 4.38 kWh per day per kW. Winter presents the most challenging period for solar generation, producing only 2.55 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. This represents less than 40% of summer production levels, indicating that homeowners and businesses should plan for significantly reduced solar output during the coldest months of the year.

Optimal Installation Setup

For fixed panel installations at North Little Rock, the ideal angle to tilt solar panels is 30 degrees facing South to maximize total year-round production. This angle is calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles at this latitude, determining optimal panel tilt for each day, and weighting these angles by daily solar potential using solar irradiance data that accounts for Earth's elliptical orbit.

Local Environmental Challenges

Several environmental and weather factors in North Little Rock can significantly impact solar energy production and should be addressed during installation planning. Arkansas experiences frequent severe weather events that can affect solar installations. The state sits within "Tornado Alley" and faces regular thunderstorms, hail, and high winds, particularly during spring and early summer. These weather patterns can damage solar panels or reduce their efficiency through accumulated debris and dirt. The region's humid subtropical climate creates additional challenges. High humidity levels can lead to increased moisture accumulation on panels, while frequent cloud cover during storm seasons can reduce solar irradiance. Summer heat, while providing longer daylight hours, can actually decrease panel efficiency as photovoltaic cells perform less effectively at very high temperatures.

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize energy production despite these challenges, several preventative measures should be implemented during solar installation. Panel mounting systems should be engineered to withstand high winds and potential hail damage. This includes using reinforced mounting hardware and selecting panels with higher impact resistance ratings. Proper grounding and surge protection are essential given the area's frequent thunderstorm activity. Regular maintenance schedules become crucial in Arkansas's climate. Installing panels at the optimal 30-degree tilt helps with natural rain washing, but periodic professional cleaning may be necessary during particularly dusty or pollen-heavy seasons. Ensuring adequate ventilation behind panels helps manage heat buildup during hot summers. Tree trimming and vegetation management around solar installations require ongoing attention, as Arkansas's growing climate can quickly create shading issues that dramatically reduce panel output. Planning installation locations with future tree growth in mind prevents long-term shading problems. Despite these challenges, North Little Rock's solar potential remains viable for most of the year, with particularly strong performance from spring through early fall making it a reasonable location for solar investment with proper planning and maintenance.

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 North Little Rock

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 34.8323, Longitude: -92.3287 (North Little Rock, 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 North Little Rock, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in North Little Rock, United States (Lat/Long 34.8323, -92.3287) 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 North Little Rock, 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 North Little Rock, 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
19° South in Summer	40° South in Autumn	50° 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 North Little Rock, 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 North Little Rock, 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 North Little Rock, United States

Topographical Features of North Little Rock

North Little Rock sits in the Arkansas River Valley region of central Arkansas, positioned on the north bank of the Arkansas River directly across from Little Rock. The city occupies relatively flat to gently rolling terrain that is characteristic of the Arkansas River floodplain and adjacent terraces. Elevations in the immediate area typically range from around 250 to 400 feet above sea level, with the lowest points near the riverbank and gradual increases in elevation as one moves away from the water. The landscape around North Little Rock is dominated by the broad Arkansas River Valley, which creates an expansive corridor of relatively level ground running east to west through the region. This valley floor consists primarily of alluvial deposits left by the river over thousands of years, resulting in generally flat topography with only minor undulations. The terrain becomes slightly more varied as one moves north and south away from the river, where low hills and ridges of the Ouachita Mountains foothills begin to emerge.

Regional Terrain Characteristics

Moving outward from North Little Rock, the topography transitions gradually from the flat river valley to more rolling countryside. To the north, the land rises gently toward the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, while to the south, it approaches the northern edge of the Ouachita Mountains. These transitions create a varied landscape of agricultural fields, pastures, and forested areas interspersed with small communities and industrial zones. The Arkansas River itself serves as a major geographical feature that has shaped the entire region's development patterns. The river's influence has created extensive bottomlands and terraces that extend for miles on either side of the waterway. These areas are characterized by rich, fertile soils and minimal topographical variation, making them ideal for both agriculture and development.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The extensive flat to gently rolling terrain throughout the Arkansas River Valley provides excellent conditions for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The most suitable areas would be the agricultural lands and open spaces extending north and east of North Little Rock, where large tracts of relatively level ground are available. These areas offer the dual advantages of minimal grading requirements and existing access to transmission infrastructure. Particularly promising locations include the expansive agricultural areas in Lonoke County to the east and the rolling farmland in White County to the northeast. These regions feature vast open spaces with gentle slopes that would require minimal site preparation for solar arrays. The terrain in these areas typically consists of former agricultural fields and pastures that could be readily converted to solar use without significant environmental disruption. The areas immediately south of North Little Rock, while still relatively flat near the river, begin to show more topographical variation as they approach the Ouachita foothills. However, many locations in this direction still offer suitable conditions for solar development, particularly the broader valley areas and mesa-like elevated terraces that provide both level ground and good drainage. Western areas extending toward Conway and Faulkner County also present favorable conditions, with extensive agricultural lands and gentle topography. The combination of level terrain, existing road access, and proximity to electrical transmission infrastructure makes these western approaches particularly attractive for utility-scale solar development.

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.