Tellico Plains, Tennessee, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, 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 this location shows dramatic seasonal swings. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 6.40 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the peak season for energy generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.73 kWh per day per kW, offering nearly comparable production levels. Autumn sees a notable decline to 4.19 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.55 kWh per day per kW. This winter figure represents less than 40% of summer production, highlighting the location's significant seasonal dependency.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For fixed solar panel installations at Tellico Plains, the ideal tilt angle is 31 degrees facing south to maximize total year-round energy production. This angle has been calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles throughout the year and weighting them according to solar irradiance data to determine the optimal compromise for annual output.

Local Environmental Factors

Several environmental and weather factors in the Tellico Plains area can impact solar energy production:

• High humidity levels typical of Tennessee can create haze and atmospheric moisture that reduces solar irradiance
• Frequent cloud cover, particularly during winter months, significantly limits solar exposure
• The mountainous terrain of East Tennessee can create localized weather patterns and potential shading issues
• Heavy rainfall during certain seasons can temporarily reduce output and create maintenance challenges

Preventative Measures for Better Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies can help:

• Ensure panels are installed with adequate spacing and ventilation to prevent overheating in humid conditions
• Choose high-quality panels with good low-light performance to maintain output during cloudy periods
• Conduct thorough site surveys to identify and avoid potential shading from trees, buildings, or terrain features
• Install panels with self-cleaning surfaces or plan for regular maintenance to remove accumulated moisture, debris, or organic matter
• Consider micro-inverters or power optimizers to minimize the impact when individual panels are partially shaded

While Tellico Plains offers decent solar potential during spring and summer months, the substantial winter decline means that solar installations here require careful planning and realistic expectations about seasonal energy production variations.

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 Tellico Plains

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 35.3629, Longitude: -84.2941 (Tellico Plains, 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 Tellico Plains, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Tellico Plains, United States (Lat/Long 35.3629, -84.2941) 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 Tellico Plains, 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 Tellico Plains, 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
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 Tellico Plains, 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 Tellico Plains, 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 Tellico Plains, United States

Topographical Features of Tellico Plains

Tellico Plains sits in a distinctive valley setting within southeastern Tennessee, nestled between the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The town itself occupies relatively flat terrain at approximately 900 feet above sea level, positioned where the Tellico River flows northward through the valley. This location places it in Monroe County, surrounded by gradually rising hills and ridges that define the broader landscape character of the region. The immediate area around Tellico Plains features a mix of agricultural bottomland and gently rolling hills. The valley floor where the town is located provides the flattest terrain in the vicinity, with agricultural fields and pastureland extending outward from the community center. These areas have been cleared for farming activities over many decades, creating open spaces with minimal tree coverage that contrast with the heavily forested hillsides that rise on either side of the valley.

Surrounding Mountain Terrain

To the southeast of Tellico Plains, the landscape rises dramatically toward the Cherokee National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains. This mountainous terrain becomes increasingly steep and heavily forested as elevation increases, with ridgelines reaching well over 2,000 feet above sea level. The slopes in this direction are characterized by dense hardwood and mixed forests, deep hollows, and rocky outcroppings that make development challenging. The western and northern approaches from Tellico Plains feature more moderate topography, with rolling hills and broader ridges that create a transitional zone between the valley floor and the higher elevations. These areas maintain a mix of forest cover and cleared land, including both active agricultural areas and former farmland in various stages of succession.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations around Tellico Plains would be found on the valley floor and the gentler slopes of the surrounding hills. The agricultural areas immediately north and west of town offer particularly favorable conditions, with relatively flat terrain, existing clearings, and good accessibility via established road networks. The rolling hills west of Tellico Plains present excellent opportunities for solar development, particularly on south-facing slopes with gradients gentle enough to accommodate solar array installation. These areas often feature a combination of open pastureland and cleared former agricultural sites that would require minimal additional preparation for solar infrastructure. Areas along the broader ridge systems to the northwest and southwest of town also show promise for solar development. These locations typically offer good exposure and adequate space for large installations while remaining accessible for construction and maintenance activities. The key advantage of these slightly elevated positions is their freedom from the valley fog and mist that can occasionally affect the immediate river valley. The steeper terrain toward the Cherokee National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains would be less suitable for large-scale solar development due to challenging topography, dense forest cover, and environmental protection considerations. However, the transition zone between the valley floor and these steeper slopes may contain pockets of suitable terrain, particularly where historical logging or agricultural activities have created clearings on appropriately oriented slopes.

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.