Lakewood, Tennessee presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations typical of its Northern Temperate Zone climate.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows dramatic seasonal swings. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 6.43 kWh per day per kilowatt of installed solar capacity, making it the peak production season. Spring follows as the second-best period with 5.62 kWh per day per kW, offering excellent energy generation as daylight hours increase. Autumn sees a notable decline to 4.01 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.46 kWh per day per kW. This winter figure represents less than 40% of summer production, highlighting the significant seasonal challenge for consistent year-round energy generation. For optimal performance with a fixed panel installation at this location, solar panels should be tilted at 31 degrees facing south to maximize total annual energy production.

Environmental and Weather Factors

Several local factors in the Lakewood area can impact solar energy production:

• Humidity and haze: Tennessee's humid subtropical climate can create atmospheric haze that reduces solar irradiance, particularly during summer months
• Severe weather: The region experiences thunderstorms, occasional tornadoes, and winter ice storms that can damage panels or create temporary shading
• Tree coverage: The heavily forested Middle Tennessee landscape can create shading issues, especially as deciduous trees leaf out in spring and summer

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective. Careful site selection away from large trees and potential shading sources becomes crucial, with consideration for future tree growth over the system's 25-year lifespan. Installing panels with adequate spacing and proper mounting systems helps withstand severe weather events. Hurricane-rated mounting hardware and proper electrical grounding protect against storm damage and lightning strikes common in Tennessee. Regular cleaning schedules help combat the effects of humidity-related dust and pollen accumulation, which can be particularly heavy during spring months. Anti-reflective coatings on panels can also help maximize light absorption during hazier conditions. Overall, while Lakewood's location presents some challenges for solar energy generation, proper installation techniques and site preparation can help ensure reliable performance throughout the year, with summer and spring offering the most productive periods for energy generation.

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 Lakewood, Tennessee

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 36.2598, Longitude: -86.6478 (Lakewood, Tennessee, 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 Lakewood, Tennessee, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Lakewood, Tennessee, United States (Lat/Long 36.2598, -86.6478) 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 Lakewood, Tennessee, 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 Lakewood, Tennessee, 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
20° South in Summer	41° South in Autumn	52° South in Winter	29° 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 Lakewood, Tennessee, 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 Lakewood, Tennessee, 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 Lakewood, Tennessee, United States

Topographical Features of the Lakewood Region

The area surrounding Lakewood in Tennessee sits within the gently rolling terrain characteristic of the Nashville Basin, a geological formation that creates relatively mild topographical variations across the landscape. This region features predominantly flat to gently sloping terrain with elevations that rarely exceed significant gradients, making it part of the broader Central Basin physiographic region of Middle Tennessee.

The local topography consists of low hills interspersed with valleys and creek bottoms, creating a landscape that undulates softly rather than presenting dramatic elevation changes. The underlying limestone bedrock has been weathered over millennia to create fertile soils and a relatively stable geological foundation. Small streams and tributaries meander through the area, carving shallow valleys that contribute to the gentle rolling character of the terrain.

Agricultural land dominates much of the surrounding countryside, with fields and pastures taking advantage of the favorable growing conditions created by the moderate topography. The terrain is well-suited to farming operations, which has historically shaped land use patterns in the region. Mixed hardwood forests occupy some of the hillsides and areas less suitable for cultivation, creating a patchwork landscape of open fields and wooded areas.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most promising locations for extensive solar photovoltaic installations would be the broad, open agricultural fields that extend across the flatter portions of the landscape. These areas offer several advantages including minimal grading requirements, reduced installation costs, and fewer obstacles to panel placement. The gently sloping fields provide natural drainage while maintaining relatively uniform terrain that simplifies the mounting and electrical infrastructure needed for large solar arrays.

South-facing slopes throughout the region present particularly attractive opportunities for solar development, as these naturally oriented surfaces can maximize solar exposure throughout the day. The moderate grade of these slopes eliminates the need for extensive earthwork while providing optimal positioning for photovoltaic panels. Many of these locations are currently used for pasture or crop production, suggesting that land acquisition for solar development might be feasible.

The elevated plateau areas and ridge tops scattered throughout the region also merit consideration for solar installations. These locations typically experience fewer issues with fog and atmospheric moisture that can accumulate in valley bottoms, while the elevated position can provide better air circulation for panel cooling. The relatively stable geology of these higher elevations creates solid foundations for the mounting systems required by large-scale solar facilities.

Areas to avoid would include the steeper hillsides where erosion control becomes more challenging and installation costs increase significantly. The narrow creek valleys and bottomlands, while flat, may present drainage issues during periods of heavy rainfall and could be subject to flooding restrictions that complicate solar development. Heavily forested areas would require extensive clearing, increasing both environmental impact and development costs compared to already-cleared agricultural land.

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

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.