Parsons, Kansas represents a moderately suitable location for solar energy generation, though it faces some typical challenges associated with the Northern Temperate Zone climate. Located at coordinates 37.3461, -95.2725, this area experiences significant seasonal variation in solar energy production that potential solar installers should carefully consider.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at Parsons varies dramatically throughout the year. Summer provides the strongest performance at 6.96 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it an excellent time for solar generation. Spring offers solid production at 5.12 kWh per day per kW, representing the second-best season for solar energy harvesting. Autumn shows a notable decline to 4.26 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.70 kWh per day per kW of production. This means summer generates more than twice the solar energy compared to winter months.

Optimal Installation Setup

For fixed solar panel installations in Parsons, the ideal tilt angle is 33 degrees facing south to maximize total year-round energy production. This angle has been calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles at this latitude, determining optimal panel positioning, and weighting these calculations using solar irradiance data that accounts for Earth's elliptical orbit around the sun.

Local Environmental Challenges

Several environmental and weather factors in the Parsons area can significantly impact solar energy production:

• Severe Weather Events: Kansas experiences frequent thunderstorms, hail, and occasional tornadoes that can damage solar panels
• High Wind Conditions: The region's flat terrain creates consistent high winds that can stress mounting systems
• Temperature Extremes: Hot summers and cold winters create thermal cycling that can affect panel efficiency and longevity
• Dust and Agricultural Debris: Rural farming activities generate dust and crop residue that can accumulate on panels

Preventative Measures for Better Performance

To combat these local challenges and ensure optimal energy production, several installation strategies are recommended:

• Impact-Resistant Panels: Choose solar panels rated for hail resistance and high wind loads
• Robust Mounting Systems: Install heavy-duty racking systems designed for high wind zones with proper structural engineering
• Regular Cleaning Schedule: Implement quarterly panel cleaning to remove dust and debris accumulation
• Quality Inverters: Select inverters rated for extreme temperature ranges common in Kansas
• Professional Installation: Ensure proper grounding and electrical connections to withstand severe weather

Despite these challenges, Parsons can still achieve reasonable solar energy production with proper planning and installation techniques, particularly during the highly productive summer and spring seasons.

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 Parsons

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 37.3461, Longitude: -95.2725 (Parsons, 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 33° South in Parsons, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Parsons, United States (Lat/Long 37.3461, -95.2725) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 33° 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 Parsons, 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 Parsons, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 33° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
21° South in Summer	42° South in Autumn	52° South in Winter	31° 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 Parsons, 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 Parsons, 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 Parsons, United States

Topographical Characteristics of the Parsons Region

The area surrounding Parsons, Kansas is characterized by gently rolling prairie terrain typical of southeastern Kansas. The landscape consists of broad, undulating plains with modest elevation changes that rarely exceed 100 feet across several miles. This region sits within the Osage Plains physiographic province, where the topography has been shaped by centuries of erosion and sedimentary processes. The terrain around Parsons features wide, open valleys separated by low ridges and gentle hills. Stream valleys cut through the landscape in meandering patterns, creating natural drainage systems that flow generally eastward toward the Neosho River. These waterways have carved shallow valleys into the underlying sedimentary rock formations, but the overall relief remains relatively subdued. Most of the land consists of former tallgrass prairie that has been converted to agricultural use over the past century and a half. The soils are generally deep and fertile, developed from limestone and shale bedrock that lies beneath layers of glacial till and loess deposits. Surface gradients are typically gentle, with slopes rarely exceeding 5-8 degrees except along stream banks and the steeper sides of the more prominent ridges.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The broad, flat to gently rolling terrain south and west of Parsons presents excellent opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. These areas offer extensive tracts of relatively level ground with minimal topographical obstacles that could create shading issues or complicate construction and maintenance access. The elevated prairie areas between the major creek valleys would be particularly well-suited for solar development. These locations typically feature consistent, gradual slopes that can be easily graded if necessary, while avoiding the potential flooding concerns associated with lower-lying areas near streams. The higher ground also tends to experience better air circulation, which can help maintain optimal operating temperatures for solar panels. Agricultural lands with gentle south-facing slopes would be especially advantageous for solar installations, as these orientations naturally optimize panel positioning for maximum solar exposure throughout the day. The existing field patterns in much of the surrounding countryside already provide large, unobstructed areas that could accommodate substantial solar arrays without significant land preparation costs. Areas to the southwest of Parsons, where the terrain opens up into broader prairie expanses, offer some of the most promising sites for utility-scale solar development. These locations combine favorable topography with minimal existing development that could create shading or access complications. The relatively uniform elevation across these areas would allow for consistent panel spacing and simplified electrical infrastructure design.

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.