Rome, Georgia, United States represents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar energy generation, situated in the Northern Sub Tropics at coordinates 34.2849°N, -85.2253°W.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output varies significantly throughout the year at this location. Summer provides the highest energy production at 6.21 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the peak season for solar generation. Spring follows closely with 5.84 kWh per day per kW, offering nearly comparable performance. Autumn shows a notable decline to 4.35 kWh per day per kW, while winter represents the challenging period with only 2.71 kWh per day per kW of production. This seasonal variation means that summer and spring are the ideal times for solar energy generation at this location, producing more than double the energy compared to winter months.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For maximum year-round energy production at Rome, Georgia, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 30 degrees facing south. This optimal angle is calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles throughout the year, determining daily optimal panel tilts, and weighting these angles by daily photovoltaic potential using solar irradiance data while accounting for Earth's elliptical orbit.

Local Environmental Challenges

Several environmental and weather factors in Rome, Georgia can significantly impact solar energy production:

• High Humidity and Frequent Precipitation: The subtropical climate brings substantial rainfall and high humidity levels, which can reduce solar panel efficiency and create more frequent cloudy conditions
• Severe Weather Events: The region experiences thunderstorms, potential tornado activity, and occasional ice storms that can damage solar installations or temporarily reduce output
• Tree Coverage and Vegetation: Georgia's lush vegetation and forested areas can create shading issues, particularly as trees grow over time
• Atmospheric Haze: Humidity and regional air quality can create atmospheric conditions that scatter sunlight before it reaches solar panels

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective:

• Robust Mounting Systems: Use heavy-duty mounting hardware rated for high wind loads and severe weather conditions common to the Southeast
• Proper Drainage Design: Ensure panel mounting allows for adequate water runoff to prevent standing water and reduce cleaning maintenance needs
• Strategic Site Selection: Conduct thorough shade analysis and choose locations with minimal tree interference, considering future growth patterns
• Quality Panel Selection: Install panels with strong performance ratings in high-humidity conditions and good low-light performance for cloudy days
• Regular Maintenance Planning: Establish cleaning schedules to remove accumulated pollen, dirt, and organic debris that can reduce panel efficiency

Despite these environmental challenges, Rome, Georgia's solar potential remains viable for year-round energy generation, particularly during the productive spring and summer seasons when output is substantially higher.

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 Rome

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 34.2849, Longitude: -85.2253 (Rome, 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 Rome, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Rome, United States (Lat/Long 34.2849, -85.2253) 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 Rome, 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 Rome, 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
18° South in Summer	39° South in Autumn	49° South in Winter	27° 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 Rome, 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 Rome, 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 Rome, United States

Topographical Features Around Rome, Georgia

Rome sits in the scenic northwest region of Georgia, nestled within the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The city itself occupies a strategic position where the Etowah and Oostanaula rivers converge to form the Coosa River, creating a landscape characterized by rolling hills, river valleys, and moderate elevation changes. The terrain transitions from the flatter Piedmont region to the south toward the more mountainous terrain of the Ridge and Valley province to the north. The immediate area around Rome features a mix of gentle slopes and steeper hillsides, with elevations typically ranging from around 580 feet near the river confluences to over 1,000 feet on the surrounding ridges. Several prominent hills define the local landscape, including Shorter Hill, Neely Hill, and Mount Alto, which provide elevated vantage points overlooking the river valleys below. The topography creates a series of natural terraces and benches that step up from the river bottoms toward the higher ridgelines.

River Valleys and Drainage Patterns

The three major rivers that define Rome's geography have carved distinct valleys through the landscape over millennia. These river corridors feature relatively flat floodplains bordered by rising bluffs and terraces. The Oostanaula River approaches from the northeast, while the Etowah flows in from the southeast, both creating broad valleys that narrow and widen as they wind through the terrain. North and west of the city, the newly formed Coosa River continues this pattern as it flows toward Alabama. Between these major waterways, the landscape consists of interfluves - the higher ground that separates river basins. These areas typically feature more rolling topography with moderate slopes, occasional steep-sided ravines carved by smaller tributaries, and ridge systems that extend outward from the main Appalachian chain to the north.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most promising locations for extensive solar installations around Rome would be the elevated plateaus and gentle south-facing slopes found on the interfluves between the major river systems. Areas southeast and southwest of the city offer particularly suitable terrain, where the landscape opens up into broader, less dissected uplands with more consistent slopes and fewer deep ravines. The higher terraces above the river valleys present excellent opportunities, as they combine relatively flat or gently rolling terrain with good drainage and minimal flood risk. These elevated areas also tend to have fewer trees and more open agricultural land, reducing the complexity and cost of site preparation. The ridge systems extending southward from the Appalachian foothills provide additional suitable locations, particularly on their southern and western faces where the slopes are more gradual. Areas immediately adjacent to the river corridors would be less suitable due to steeper bluffs, potential flooding concerns, and the likelihood of encountering more forested or environmentally sensitive lands. The steeper hillsides and narrow ravines common in the more mountainous terrain to the north would also present significant challenges for large-scale solar development, though smaller installations might be feasible on carefully selected sites. The agricultural lands surrounding Rome, particularly those on the gentler slopes and broader upland areas, represent the most practical locations for utility-scale solar farms. These areas typically offer the combination of suitable topography, existing cleared land, and reasonable access to transmission infrastructure that makes large solar developments economically viable.

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.