Solar PV Analysis of Sherrills Ford, United States
Sherrills Ford, North Carolina is a location with moderate potential for solar energy generation throughout the year. Located in the Northern Temperate Zone, this area experiences distinct seasonal variations in solar production that prospective solar panel owners should consider.
Seasonal Solar Production
At this specific location, solar panels produce their highest output during summer months, generating approximately 6.70 kWh per day for each kilowatt installed. Spring follows as the second most productive season with 6.07 kWh daily per installed kilowatt. Production decreases significantly in autumn (4.42 kWh/day) and reaches its lowest point during winter months (2.75 kWh/day).
This seasonal pattern creates a roughly 2.4× difference between the best and worst production periods of the year. Summer and spring together represent the ideal times for solar generation at this location, accounting for substantially higher energy production than the autumn and winter months.
Optimal Panel Installation
For fixed solar panel installations in Sherrills Ford, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 31 degrees facing South. This angle has been calculated to optimize the total annual energy harvest based on the location's specific latitude and seasonal solar conditions.
Environmental and Weather Considerations
Several factors could potentially affect solar production at this Sherrills Ford location:
- Tree coverage is a significant consideration in this region of North Carolina, as the area features substantial woodlands that could cast shadows on panels.
- Seasonal weather patterns including summer thunderstorms and occasional winter ice events may temporarily reduce production.
- Humidity and haze during summer months can slightly diminish optimal performance despite longer daylight hours.
- Pollen and dust accumulation is common in this region, particularly during spring.
Preventative Measures
To maximize solar production at this location, consider implementing these preventative measures:
- Conduct thorough shade analysis before installation to identify optimal panel placement away from trees or structures.
- Install panels with sufficient elevation to avoid snow accumulation during winter months.
- Consider a regular cleaning schedule, particularly during spring pollen season and after summer storms.
- Use microinverters or power optimizers to minimize the impact of partial shading on overall system performance.
- Consider slight adjustments to the tilt angle seasonally if your mounting system allows, tilting more steeply in winter and more flat in summer.
Overall, while Sherrills Ford doesn't offer ideal solar conditions year-round, proper installation with the recommended 31-degree south-facing tilt can still provide significant energy production, particularly during the more productive spring and summer 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 Sherrills Ford
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 35.6204, Longitude: -80.9865 (Sherrills Ford, 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 Sherrills Ford, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Sherrills Ford, United States (Lat/Long 35.6204, -80.9865) 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 Sherrills Ford, 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 Sherrills Ford, 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 | 51° 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 Sherrills Ford, 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 Sherrills Ford, United States.
Our calculation method
- Solar Position:
We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination. - Shadow Projection:
We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle. - 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 Sherrills Ford, United States
Sherrills Ford, situated in Catawba County, North Carolina, presents a varied topographical landscape characteristic of the western Piedmont region of the southeastern United States. The terrain around Sherrills Ford features gently rolling hills interspersed with shallow valleys, creating a moderately undulating landscape. The elevation typically ranges between 700 and 900 feet above sea level, with gradual slopes rather than steep inclines dominating the area.
A significant topographical feature influencing the region is Lake Norman, which borders Sherrills Ford to the east. This large reservoir, formed by damming the Catawba River, creates a substantial water boundary with numerous coves and inlets that shape the eastern edge of the community. The presence of this large body of water moderates local climate conditions and creates distinctive shoreline topography with peninsulas and waterfront areas.
The western portions of Sherrills Ford transition into slightly more elevated terrain as the land begins its long, gradual rise toward the distant Appalachian Mountains. Throughout the area, the natural landscape has been modified by human activity, with a mix of residential developments, small farms, and patches of deciduous forest covering the rolling terrain.
Soil Composition and Drainage
The soil around Sherrills Ford typically consists of clay-rich compositions common to the Piedmont region, with moderate drainage capabilities. These soils have developed from the weathering of underlying metamorphic and igneous rocks. In some areas, particularly on higher ground, the soil may be thinner with occasional rocky outcrops, while lower-lying areas near streams and Lake Norman may have deeper alluvial soils.
Optimal Areas for Solar PV Development
For large-scale solar photovoltaic installations, several areas around Sherrills Ford offer favorable conditions. The gently sloping terrain to the west and northwest of Sherrills Ford presents particularly suitable topography for solar development. These areas combine several advantageous features: south-facing slopes that maximize sun exposure throughout the day, relatively open landscapes with fewer tall trees causing shading issues, and elevated positions that reduce morning fog effects from Lake Norman.
The land between Highway 150 and Highway 16, extending westward from Sherrills Ford, contains numerous parcels with ideal conditions for solar arrays. This region features broad, open areas with consistent, moderate slopes and good drainage, reducing concerns about water pooling or erosion that could affect installation foundations.
Areas to avoid would include the immediate shoreline zones around Lake Norman, which have higher property values and may experience more morning fog, as well as the more densely forested sections where clearing costs would be prohibitive. Similarly, the limited number of steep slopes in the region would require excessive grading work, making them less economically viable for large-scale installations.
The northwestern portions of Catawba County, slightly removed from Sherrills Ford proper, offer some of the most promising topography for utility-scale solar development. These areas combine favorable elevation, aspect (the direction the land faces), and existing land use patterns that would minimize conflicts with residential or high-value agricultural activities.
Overall, the moderate relief, abundant open space, and generally south-facing orientation of many slopes in the region create numerous viable options for solar PV development, with the most suitable sites being those elevated areas with minimal forest cover located away from the immediate lake shoreline.
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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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Thursday 29th of May 2025
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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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.
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