Tazewell, Tennessee presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar energy generation, though with notable seasonal variations typical of its Northern Temperate Zone climate. The area experiences significant differences in solar production throughout the year, making it important to understand both the opportunities and challenges for solar installations.

Seasonal Solar Production Patterns

Summer offers the strongest solar energy production at 6.46 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it the peak season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best performing season with 5.65 kWh per day per kW, providing excellent energy output as daylight hours increase and weather conditions improve. Autumn production drops to 4.07 kWh per day per kW as the region transitions toward winter conditions. Winter presents the most challenging period for solar generation, producing only 2.36 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, representing less than 40% of summer production levels. For optimal year-round performance, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 31 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual energy production by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the seasons and the varying solar irradiance levels at this latitude.

Environmental and Weather Factors

Several local factors in Tazewell, Tennessee can impact solar energy production and should be considered during installation planning. The region's Appalachian Mountain location means that topographical shading from hills, ridges, and valleys can significantly reduce solar panel efficiency, particularly during winter months when the sun sits lower in the sky. Morning fog and low-lying clouds are common in this mountainous terrain, especially during autumn and winter, which can reduce solar production during peak morning hours. Tennessee's humid subtropical climate brings frequent thunderstorms during spring and summer months, along with occasional severe weather including hail that could damage solar equipment. Winter weather can include ice storms and snow accumulation, both of which temporarily reduce solar production and potentially damage improperly installed systems. The area's deciduous forest coverage means that nearby trees can create seasonal shading issues, with full foliage during spring and summer potentially blocking panels that remain unobstructed during winter months.

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

Several installation strategies can help maximize solar energy production despite these environmental challenges:

• Conduct thorough site surveys to identify and avoid areas prone to topographical or vegetation shading, particularly during winter months when shadows are longest
• Install panels with adequate spacing between rows to minimize self-shading, especially important given the lower winter sun angles
• Choose mounting systems rated for high wind loads and ice accumulation to withstand severe weather events
• Select panels with impact-resistant glass and robust frames to protect against hail damage
• Design systems with steeper tilt angles where appropriate to promote snow shedding and reduce ice buildup

Regular maintenance becomes particularly important in this climate, including periodic cleaning to remove accumulated dust, pollen, and debris that can reduce panel efficiency. Tree trimming around solar installations should be planned as an ongoing maintenance requirement to prevent shading as vegetation grows. Despite these challenges, Tazewell's solar potential remains viable for both residential and commercial applications, particularly when installations are properly designed to account for local environmental factors. The strong spring and summer production can offset much of the reduced winter output, making solar a worthwhile investment when properly planned and maintained.

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 Tazewell

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 36.4543, Longitude: -83.5694 (Tazewell, 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 Tazewell, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Tazewell, United States (Lat/Long 36.4543, -83.5694) 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 Tazewell, 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 Tazewell, 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	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 Tazewell, 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 Tazewell, 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 Tazewell, United States

Topographical Characteristics of Tazewell, Virginia

Tazewell sits nestled in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains in southwestern Virginia, positioned within Tazewell County at an elevation of approximately 2,400 feet above sea level. The surrounding landscape is dominated by the characteristic rolling hills and steep ridges that define this region of the Appalachian chain. The terrain features a complex network of valleys, hollows, and mountainous ridges that create a dramatic and varied topographical profile. The area is characterized by the typical Appalachian geology, with underlying sedimentary rock formations that have been folded and uplifted over millions of years. This geological history has created the distinctive ridge-and-valley pattern visible throughout the region. The slopes are often steep, with many areas experiencing significant elevation changes over relatively short distances. Dense forest coverage blankets much of the mountainous terrain, consisting primarily of deciduous and mixed hardwood forests typical of the central Appalachian ecosystem. Water features play an important role in shaping the local topography, with numerous creeks and small rivers carving valleys through the mountainous landscape. These waterways have created some of the flatter areas within the otherwise hilly terrain, though even these valley floors often feature gentle slopes and undulating surfaces.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

When considering large-scale solar photovoltaic installations in the Tazewell area, the challenging mountainous topography presents both obstacles and opportunities. The most suitable locations would be found in the broader valley areas where the terrain is relatively flat and accessible for construction equipment and maintenance vehicles. These valley floors, while limited in extent, offer the most practical foundation for substantial solar arrays. South-facing slopes with moderate gradients could also present viable options for solar development, particularly those that have been previously cleared for agriculture or other uses. These locations would benefit from optimal solar exposure while requiring less extensive site preparation than steeper mountainous areas. However, the installation costs on sloped terrain would be considerably higher than on flat ground. Former mining areas, particularly reclaimed surface mining sites, represent some of the most promising locations for large-scale solar development in this region. These areas have already been cleared and graded, reducing preparation costs significantly. Many such sites feature relatively flat or gently sloping terrain that was created during the mining and reclamation process. The soil conditions on reclaimed mining sites, while not suitable for traditional agriculture, are often adequate for solar installations with proper engineering. Agricultural areas within the valleys would also be suitable from a topographical standpoint, though the conversion of productive farmland to solar use involves additional considerations beyond terrain suitability. These areas typically offer the flattest available land with existing road access and utility infrastructure. The mountainous ridges and steep slopes that characterize much of the surrounding landscape would generally be unsuitable for large-scale solar installations due to the extreme costs associated with site preparation, the challenges of equipment access, and the potential environmental impact of clearing forested mountainous terrain. Additionally, many of these areas would experience significant shading from adjacent ridges and peaks, reducing their solar potential.

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.