Springfield, Tennessee, located in the Northern Temperate Zone at coordinates 36.5014, -86.8738, presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations that potential solar installers should carefully consider.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at Springfield shows typical patterns for its latitude, with summer delivering the strongest performance at 6.43 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.62 kWh per day per kW, making these warmer months ideal for solar energy generation. Autumn production drops to 4.01 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.46 kWh per day per kW. This represents a significant seasonal swing, with summer producing nearly three times more energy than winter months. For maximum year-round energy production from a fixed panel installation at this location, solar panels should be tilted at 32 degrees facing south. This angle optimizes the total annual solar output by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year.

Local Environmental Challenges

Springfield, Tennessee faces several environmental factors that can impact solar energy production:

• High humidity and frequent cloud cover, particularly during summer months when thunderstorms are common
• Ice storms and snow accumulation during winter months that can block panels
• Heavy pollen loads in spring, especially from oak, maple, and pine trees prevalent in Middle Tennessee
• Occasional severe weather including hail and strong winds from thunderstorms

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective: Regular cleaning schedules become essential, particularly during spring pollen season and after severe weather events. Installing panels with adequate spacing allows for proper air circulation, reducing moisture buildup that can decrease efficiency. Choosing panels with anti-reflective coatings and self-cleaning surfaces helps minimize the impact of pollen and dust accumulation. Additionally, installing panels at the recommended 32-degree tilt naturally helps shed snow, ice, and debris more effectively than flatter installations. Proper structural reinforcement protects against hail damage and high winds, while installing monitoring systems allows for quick identification of performance issues caused by weather-related obstructions. Despite these environmental challenges, Springfield's solar potential remains viable, especially during the productive spring and summer seasons when energy demand for cooling typically peaks.

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 Springfield, Tennessee

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 36.5014, Longitude: -86.8738 (Springfield, Tennessee, 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 32° South in Springfield, Tennessee, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Springfield, Tennessee, United States (Lat/Long 36.5014, -86.8738) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 32° 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 Springfield, Tennessee, 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 Springfield, Tennessee, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 32° 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	52° South in Winter	29° 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 Springfield, Tennessee, 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 Springfield, Tennessee, 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 Springfield, Tennessee, United States

Topographical Features of Springfield, Tennessee

Springfield sits in the rolling hills of north-central Tennessee, positioned within the Highland Rim region of the state. The terrain around this Robertson County community is characterized by gently undulating hills interspersed with small valleys and creek bottoms. The elevation in the immediate area ranges from approximately 500 to 800 feet above sea level, creating a landscape that is neither mountainous nor completely flat.

The Red River flows to the north of Springfield, carving out broader valley areas that provide some of the flatter terrain in the region. South of the city, the land gradually rises toward higher ridgelines that are part of the broader Highland Rim formation. These ridges run generally in an east-west direction and are separated by numerous small tributaries and drainage ways that feed into larger creek systems.

The underlying geology consists primarily of limestone bedrock typical of Middle Tennessee, which has been weathered over millennia to create the characteristic rolling topography. This limestone foundation provides generally stable ground conditions, though the area does feature some karst features including occasional sinkholes and caves, which are common throughout this part of Tennessee.

Agricultural Character and Land Use

Much of the countryside surrounding Springfield has been cleared for agricultural use over the past two centuries. The predominant land use consists of pasture for cattle grazing, along with hay production and some row crop farming. These agricultural areas typically feature open fields ranging from 20 to 200 acres in size, separated by fence lines, tree rows, or small woodlots.

Forested areas remain primarily along creek bottoms, on steeper hillsides, and in areas less suitable for farming. These wooded sections are typically composed of mixed hardwood forests dominated by oak, hickory, and maple species. The agricultural clearings provide numerous potential sites with minimal tree cover that could be suitable for solar installations.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most promising locations for substantial solar photovoltaic installations would be found on the broader ridgetops and gently sloping hillsides that face generally southward. These elevated areas typically receive the most consistent solar exposure throughout the day and across seasons. The ridgelines running east-west south of Springfield offer particularly attractive sites, as they provide both good solar orientation and relatively flat or gently sloping terrain.

The valley areas near the Red River and its tributaries, while offering flatter ground, may experience more morning fog and atmospheric moisture that could reduce solar efficiency. However, some of the broader valley floors, particularly those with good southern exposure and minimal tree cover, could still serve as viable locations for solar farms.

Areas of rolling pastureland that have been cleared for decades would require minimal site preparation compared to forested locations. The limestone bedrock beneath much of the region provides stable foundation conditions for solar mounting systems, though careful attention would need to be paid to any karst features during site planning and engineering phases.

The proximity to existing electrical transmission infrastructure along major roads and near Springfield itself would be advantageous for connecting solar installations to the power grid. Rural areas within 5 to 10 miles of the city center would likely offer the best combination of suitable topography, land availability, and grid connection opportunities for large-scale 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!

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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.