Solar PV Analysis of Sherwood, United States
Sherwood, Arkansas, located in the Northern Sub Tropics of the United States, has varying potential for generating energy through solar photovoltaic (PV) systems throughout the year. In simple terms, a solar PV system converts sunlight into electricity.
During summer and spring seasons, you can expect to generate more electricity compared to autumn and winter. Specifically, for every kilowatt (kW) of solar installed during summer days, you would get around 6.73 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day. For spring days it's about 5.47 kWh/day per kW installed which is also quite good.
However during autumn and winter months when there are fewer hours of daylight and less direct sunlight due to the tilt of the earth's axis relative to its orbit around the sun; production decreases significantly - with only about 4.44 kWh/day generated in autumn and as low as 2.61 kWh/day in winter per kW installed.
To maximize your total yearly output from your solar panels at this location they should be tilted at an angle facing towards South by approximately 30 degrees - this will ensure that across all four seasons your panels receive maximum exposure to sunlight on average.
In terms of environmental or weather factors that could potentially impede solar production at Sherwood; cloud cover can sometimes reduce output because it blocks direct sunlight from reaching your panels but this is not usually significant enough over a whole year period to seriously affect overall production outcomes since most days are clear or only partly cloudy on average here.
Other local factors such as tall trees or buildings casting shadows onto your panels could also reduce their efficiency so these things should be taken into account when choosing where exactly on a property to install them if possible; ideally they should have unobstructed access to open sky from sunrise until sunset each day for best results.
Preventative measures that can be taken include regular cleaning & maintenance checks since dust, bird droppings or fallen leaves can also reduce efficiency if they build up on the surface of your panels. Also ensuring that the panels are securely mounted and not likely to be damaged by high winds or storms is another important factor to consider for long term optimal operation.
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 Sherwood
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 34.8775, Longitude: -92.2265 (Sherwood, 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 Sherwood, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Sherwood, United States (Lat/Long 34.8775, -92.2265) 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 Sherwood, 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 Sherwood, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19° South in Summer | 40° South in Autumn | 50° 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 Sherwood, 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 Sherwood, 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 Sherwood, United States
Sherwood, located in the state of Arkansas, United States, is characterized by a relatively flat topography with some gentle hills. The area has an average elevation of about 300 feet above sea level. It's part of the larger Pulaski County which is situated on the west-central portion of Arkansas and features a mix of urban areas and countryside.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping lands are most suitable as they allow for easier installation and maintenance while maximizing exposure to sunlight. Therefore, open fields or farmlands around Sherwood could be potential sites for such projects.
However, it's not just about topography but also factors like local climate (amount of sunlight received), proximity to power grids (for ease of transmission), land use regulations among others need to be considered when determining suitability for solar PV installations.
It would require more specific local data and possibly site surveys to identify exact locations that would be most suited for large-scale solar PV near Sherwood.
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: Monday 1st of July 2024
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.
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.
