Washington, Georgia, located in the Northern Sub Tropics at coordinates 33.7368, -82.7393, offers reasonably good conditions for year-round solar energy generation, though with notable seasonal variations that potential solar installers should understand.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows strong seasonal patterns. Summer delivers the highest production at 6.41 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the peak season for solar generation. Spring follows closely with excellent output of 6.15 kWh per day per kW, creating an extended period of high solar productivity from roughly March through September. Autumn production drops to 4.49 kWh per day per kW, which still represents decent energy generation. Winter presents the most challenging period with only 2.91 kWh per day per kW, reflecting the shorter days and lower sun angles typical of this season in Georgia. For optimal year-round energy production from a fixed panel installation at this Washington, Georgia location, solar panels should be tilted at 29 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual solar output by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in this region of Georgia can impact solar energy generation:

• High humidity and frequent thunderstorms during summer months can reduce solar efficiency and create temporary power interruptions
• Tree coverage and vegetation growth, common in Georgia's climate, can create shading issues that significantly reduce panel output
• Ice storms and occasional winter weather events may temporarily cover panels or damage installations
• Dust, pollen, and organic debris accumulation on panels, particularly heavy during Georgia's spring pollen season

Preventative Measures for Better Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective. Proper site selection away from large trees and with southern exposure helps minimize shading throughout the day and seasons. Installing panels with adequate spacing allows for air circulation, which helps combat efficiency losses from high humidity and heat. Regular maintenance schedules become particularly important in this climate. Cleaning panels after major pollen seasons and storm events maintains optimal light absorption. Installing monitoring systems helps identify performance drops quickly, whether from weather damage or debris accumulation. Choosing high-quality mounting systems designed for Georgia's weather conditions, including potential ice loading and high winds from thunderstorms, ensures long-term reliability. Ground-mounted systems may offer easier maintenance access compared to rooftop installations, though this depends on individual site conditions and local regulations.

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 Washington, Georgia

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.7368, Longitude: -82.7393 (Washington, Georgia, 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 Washington, Georgia, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Washington, Georgia, United States (Lat/Long 33.7368, -82.7393) 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 Washington, Georgia, 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 Washington, Georgia, 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 Washington, Georgia, 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 Washington, Georgia, 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 Washington, Georgia, United States

Topographical Features of Washington, Georgia

The area around Washington, Georgia sits within the gently rolling hills of the eastern Piedmont region. This location experiences relatively modest elevation changes, with the terrain characterized by undulating hills that rise and fall gradually across the landscape. The topography consists primarily of weathered granite and gneiss bedrock covered by red clay soils typical of the Georgia Piedmont. Elevations in the immediate vicinity range from approximately 400 to 600 feet above sea level, creating a series of low ridges and shallow valleys that drain toward the Savannah River basin. The landscape features numerous small creeks and tributaries that have carved gentle valleys through the rolling terrain over millennia. These waterways generally flow in a southeasterly direction, following the natural gradient toward the Atlantic coastal plain. The hills are typically rounded rather than sharp or steep, having been worn down by millions of years of erosion since the ancient Appalachian mountain-building events that originally formed this region.

Forest Cover and Land Use Patterns

Much of the surrounding countryside remains heavily forested with mixed pine and hardwood stands. Loblolly pine plantations are common throughout the area, interspersed with natural forests containing oak, hickory, and other native hardwood species. Agricultural land use includes pastures for cattle grazing, along with some row crop cultivation on the more level terrain. The combination of forest cover and agricultural activity has created a patchwork landscape of open areas and wooded sections. The region's climate supports dense vegetation growth during the growing season, which means that any large-scale development projects must account for the need to clear existing forest cover in many locations. However, the relatively gentle topography makes land clearing and site preparation more straightforward than would be the case in steeper terrain.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for extensive solar installations would be found on the broader hilltops and ridge lines that offer relatively flat terrain with good southern exposure. These elevated positions typically receive less shading from surrounding vegetation and terrain features while providing natural drainage away from the installation sites. The gentle slopes of many hilltops in the area can accommodate solar arrays without requiring extensive grading or earthwork. Agricultural areas with existing pastureland present particularly attractive opportunities for solar development. These locations often have minimal tree cover, established access roads, and terrain that has already been modified for human use. The rolling pastures southeast and southwest of Washington offer especially promising sites, as they combine favorable topography with reduced environmental impact from land conversion. Areas to avoid for large-scale solar development include the narrow valley bottoms where seasonal flooding may occur, heavily forested sections that would require extensive clearing, and north-facing slopes that receive reduced solar exposure. The steeper hillsides, while not extremely challenging, would require more complex mounting systems and potentially more extensive site preparation compared to the gentler terrain available on ridge tops and in open agricultural areas. The overall topographical character of the Washington, Georgia region provides numerous suitable locations for solar development, with the key advantages being the generally gentle terrain, good drainage characteristics, and the availability of cleared or partially cleared land that minimizes environmental disruption during installation.

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.