Harrison, Tennessee, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a moderately favorable environment for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. The location's seasonal variations in solar output provide insights into its potential for harnessing solar energy.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Summer stands out as the most productive season, with an impressive 6.32 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely, generating 5.65 kWh/day. Autumn sees a noticeable decrease to 4.14 kWh/day, while winter experiences the lowest output at 2.53 kWh/day.

These figures indicate that Harrison enjoys substantial solar potential during the warmer months, particularly from late spring through early fall. This period offers an excellent opportunity for maximizing solar energy production.

Optimal Panel Positioning

To achieve the best year-round solar performance in Harrison, fixed solar panels should be tilted at a 30-degree angle facing south. This orientation helps capture the most sunlight throughout the year, balancing the sun's changing position across seasons.

Environmental Considerations

While Harrison's climate is generally conducive to solar energy production, there are some factors that could impact efficiency:

1. Seasonal weather patterns: The region experiences occasional thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, particularly in spring and summer. These events can temporarily reduce solar output.
2. Tree cover: Parts of Harrison may have significant tree coverage, potentially shading solar panels and decreasing their efficiency.

Mitigating Factors

To address these challenges and optimize solar production, consider the following measures:

• Install panels on the sunniest part of the property, away from potential shading sources.
• Use micro-inverters or power optimizers to minimize the impact of partial shading on overall system performance.
• Implement a regular cleaning schedule to remove debris and maintain panel efficiency, especially after storms.
• Consider adding a battery storage system to store excess energy produced during peak times for use during cloudy periods or at night.

By implementing these strategies, residents of Harrison can maximize their solar energy production and make the most of the area's solar potential throughout the year.

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 Harrison, Tennessee

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 35.1137, Longitude: -85.138 (Harrison, 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 30° South in Harrison, Tennessee, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Harrison, Tennessee, United States (Lat/Long 35.1137, -85.138) 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 Harrison, 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 Harrison, Tennessee, 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 Harrison, 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 Harrison, 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 Harrison, Tennessee, United States

The area around Harrison, United States, located at latitude 35.1137 and longitude -85.138, is characterized by a diverse and picturesque topography typical of the southeastern United States. This region, situated in eastern Tennessee near the Georgia border, features a mix of rolling hills, valleys, and forested areas that are part of the Appalachian Mountain system. The landscape is dominated by the southern reaches of the Cumberland Plateau to the west and the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians to the east. The terrain is generally hilly, with elevations ranging from around 600 to 1,000 feet above sea level. The area is dissected by numerous streams and rivers, including the Tennessee River and its tributaries, which have carved out scenic valleys and gorges over millions of years.

Topographical Features

The immediate vicinity of Harrison showcases gently rolling hills interspersed with flat areas, particularly near the Tennessee River and its associated floodplains. These flatter regions are often used for agriculture or have been developed for residential and commercial purposes. As one moves away from the river, the terrain becomes more varied, with steeper hillsides and deeper valleys. Forested areas are common throughout the region, with a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees covering many of the hillsides. These woodlands contribute to the area's natural beauty and provide important habitats for local wildlife.

Potential for Solar PV Development

When considering areas nearby that would be most suited to large-scale solar PV (photovoltaic) installations, several factors come into play. The ideal locations for solar farms in this region would be: 1. Flat or gently sloping terrain: Areas with minimal topographical variation are preferable for solar panel installation. The flatter regions near the Tennessee River and its tributaries could be potential candidates, as long as they are not prone to flooding. 2. South-facing slopes: In the northern hemisphere, south-facing slopes receive more direct sunlight throughout the day, making them ideal for solar energy production. Some of the hillsides in the area could be suitable if they have the right orientation and are not too steep. 3. Open areas with minimal shading: Locations with fewer trees and obstructions that could cast shadows on solar panels would be more suitable. This might include former agricultural lands or cleared areas that are not currently in use. 4. Proximity to existing infrastructure: Areas close to power lines and substations would be advantageous for connecting the solar farm to the grid. The developed corridors along major highways in the region might offer such opportunities. 5. Land with lower ecological value: To minimize environmental impact, areas that are not prime habitats for endangered species or crucial for local ecosystems would be preferable. While the hilly nature of much of the terrain around Harrison may present some challenges for large-scale solar PV development, there are likely to be suitable sites within a reasonable distance. Careful site selection and environmental assessment would be necessary to identify the most appropriate locations for such projects in this topographically diverse region.

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.