Swansea, South Carolina presents a reasonably good location for year-round solar energy generation, situated in the Northern Sub Tropics at coordinates 33.7346, -81.0935. The area shows solid solar production potential across all seasons, though with notable seasonal variations that property owners should understand when planning their solar installations.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this South Carolina location varies significantly throughout the year. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 6.44 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the peak season for energy generation. Spring follows closely behind with 6.21 kWh per day per kW, creating an excellent six-month period from roughly March through August for maximum solar production. Autumn sees a moderate decline to 4.49 kWh per day per kW, which still represents decent energy generation for most residential and commercial applications. Winter presents the most challenging period with 2.90 kWh per day per kW, representing less than half the summer production levels. For optimal year-round performance, solar panels at this location should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 29 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual energy production by accounting for the sun's path throughout the year and the area's latitude.

Local Environmental Factors

Several environmental and weather conditions in the Swansea area can impact solar panel performance and require careful consideration during installation:

• High humidity levels typical of South Carolina can lead to increased dust and pollen accumulation on panels
• Frequent thunderstorms during spring and summer months may cause temporary shading from cloud cover
• Pine pollen, particularly heavy in spring, can create a yellow film that reduces panel efficiency
• Occasional severe weather including hail and high winds from thunderstorms

Preventative Installation Measures

Property owners can take several steps to maximize solar energy production despite these local challenges. Installing panels with adequate spacing allows for better air circulation, which helps reduce humidity-related issues and makes cleaning more accessible. Choosing panels with smooth, anti-reflective coatings helps minimize pollen and dust adhesion while making cleaning more effective. Regular maintenance schedules should account for the heavy pollen season in spring, with more frequent cleaning during March and April when pine pollen is most problematic. Proper mounting systems designed for high wind loads ensure panels remain secure during severe weather events. Additionally, installing micro-inverters or power optimizers can help minimize production losses when individual panels are affected by localized shading or debris. The combination of reasonable year-round solar potential and manageable environmental challenges makes Swansea a viable location for solar energy systems, provided proper installation techniques and maintenance practices are followed.

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 Swansea

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.7346, Longitude: -81.0935 (Swansea, 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 Swansea, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Swansea, United States (Lat/Long 33.7346, -81.0935) 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 Swansea, 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 Swansea, 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
18° South in Summer	39° South in Autumn	49° 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 Swansea, 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 Swansea, 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 Swansea, United States

Topographical Features of the Swansea Area

The topography around Swansea in South Carolina is characterized by gently rolling hills and relatively flat terrain typical of the South Carolina Midlands region. This area sits within the Sandhills physiographic province, which creates a transitional landscape between the coastal plain to the southeast and the Piedmont plateau to the northwest. The elevation changes are generally modest, with most of the surrounding countryside featuring gradual slopes and broad, open areas that extend for considerable distances.

The landscape consists primarily of sandy soils and pine forests interspersed with agricultural fields and cleared areas. Many locations feature long, unobstructed views across the terrain, with few significant geographical barriers such as steep ridges or deep valleys that would create substantial shading concerns. The region's topography includes numerous cleared agricultural areas and former farmland that has reverted to grassland or been maintained as open space.

Water features in the area include several small creeks and tributaries, along with some constructed ponds and reservoirs, but these generally occupy relatively small portions of the overall landscape. The drainage patterns create gentle depressions and slight elevational changes, but rarely result in dramatic topographical variations that would significantly impact large-scale development projects.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for extensive solar photovoltaic installations would be the numerous open agricultural fields and cleared areas that dot the landscape around Swansea. These locations typically offer several acres of relatively flat, unobstructed land with minimal shading from trees or structures. Former tobacco fields and other agricultural areas that are no longer in active cultivation present particularly attractive opportunities, as they often feature good road access and existing electrical infrastructure connections.

Areas with gentle south-facing slopes would be especially well-suited for solar development, as they can provide optimal panel orientation while maintaining good drainage characteristics. The sandy soils common throughout the region generally provide stable foundations for solar mounting systems while allowing for proper water infiltration and minimal erosion concerns.

The relatively sparse population density in much of the surrounding countryside means that large tracts of undeveloped land remain available, often with minimal conflicts regarding residential proximity or aesthetic concerns. Many of these areas benefit from existing access roads developed for agricultural or forestry purposes, which can reduce infrastructure development costs for solar projects.

Locations near existing electrical transmission lines or substations would be particularly advantageous, as they could minimize the costs and complexity of connecting solar installations to the electrical grid. The flat to gently rolling terrain makes it easier to design efficient panel layouts that maximize land use while maintaining proper spacing and access corridors for maintenance activities.

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.