Riverdale, Georgia, located in the Northern Sub Tropics, offers a generally favorable environment for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. The location's latitude and longitude (33.5619, -84.4319) contribute to its potential for harnessing solar energy, with varying levels of efficiency across different seasons.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Solar energy production in Riverdale exhibits significant seasonal variations. Summer and spring are the most productive seasons, with daily outputs of 6.21 kWh and 6.04 kWh per kW of installed solar, respectively. Autumn sees a moderate decrease in production at 4.49 kWh/day, while winter experiences the lowest output at 2.78 kWh/day.

The substantial difference between summer and winter production highlights the impact of seasonal changes on solar energy generation in this region. Despite the winter dip, the overall yearly performance remains relatively strong, making Riverdale a suitable location for solar PV installations.

Optimal Panel Positioning

For fixed panel installations in Riverdale, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round solar production is 29 degrees facing South. This angle optimizes the panels' exposure to sunlight throughout the year, accounting for the Earth's elliptical orbit and the location's specific latitude.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

While Riverdale generally offers good conditions for solar energy production, there are some factors that could potentially impact efficiency:

1. Humidity: The subtropical climate can lead to high humidity levels, which may slightly reduce panel efficiency.
2. Occasional severe weather: Thunderstorms and the rare possibility of tornadoes could pose risks to solar installations.

To mitigate these factors, consider using corrosion-resistant mounting hardware and ensuring panels are securely installed to withstand strong winds. Regular cleaning and maintenance can also help combat any efficiency loss due to humidity or dust accumulation.

Overall, Riverdale's location provides a good balance of solar potential throughout the year, with particularly strong performance in spring and summer months. With proper installation and maintenance, solar PV systems in this area can be highly effective for generating renewable energy.

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 Riverdale

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.5619, Longitude: -84.4319 (Riverdale, 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 29° South in Riverdale, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Riverdale, United States (Lat/Long 33.5619, -84.4319) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 29° 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 Riverdale, 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 Riverdale, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 29° 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	39° 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 Riverdale, 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 Riverdale, 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 Riverdale, United States

The topography around Riverdale, Georgia, located at latitude 33.5619 and longitude -84.4319, is characterized by gently rolling hills and shallow valleys typical of the Piedmont region in the southeastern United States. This area features a mix of forested land and open spaces, with elevations ranging from about 800 to 1,000 feet above sea level. The landscape is dotted with small streams and creeks that feed into larger rivers, creating a network of waterways throughout the region. Riverdale itself sits on relatively flat terrain, but the surrounding areas become more undulating as you move away from the city center. To the north and east, the land gradually rises, forming low hills and ridges. To the south and west, the terrain becomes slightly more varied, with some steeper slopes and deeper valleys.

Potential for Large-Scale Solar PV

When considering areas nearby that would be most suited to large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, several factors come into play. The ideal locations would be relatively flat, open spaces with good sun exposure and minimal shading from trees or buildings. Based on the topography of the region, the most suitable areas for large-scale solar PV would likely be found in the more level areas to the south and southeast of Riverdale. These locations tend to have larger expanses of open land, often used for agriculture or as former industrial sites. The flatter terrain in these areas would require less grading and preparation for solar panel installation, reducing costs and environmental impact. Additionally, some of the gently sloping hillsides to the north and east of Riverdale could potentially be used for solar farms, especially those facing south or southwest. These slopes can actually be advantageous for solar panels, as they naturally angle the panels towards the sun, potentially increasing their efficiency. However, it's important to note that any large-scale solar PV project would require detailed site-specific assessments, including studies of local zoning laws, environmental impact, and grid connectivity. The presence of wetlands, protected habitats, or historical sites could also influence the suitability of certain areas for 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!

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.