Solar PV Analysis of Athens, Georgia, United States
Athens, Georgia is a pretty good place for solar energy production. The amount of electricity you can generate from solar panels varies throughout the year. In summer and spring, you can expect to produce quite a lot of electricity - around 6.35 and 6.14 kilowatt-hours per day for every kilowatt of solar panels installed, respectively. In autumn, this drops to about 4.54 kilowatt-hours per day and in winter it's even lower at about 2.92 kilowatt-hours per day.
This means that the best times of the year to generate solar energy in Athens are during spring and summer when the days are longer and there's more sunlight available.
For optimal results from your solar panels all year round in Athens, they should be fixed at an angle facing 30 degrees South - this will give them maximum exposure to sunlight over the course of a year.
However, there might be some local factors that could affect how much energy you can produce with your solar panels here.
For instance, weather conditions like heavy cloud cover or frequent rain could reduce how much sunlight reaches your panels. Also, if there are tall buildings or trees nearby they could cast shadows on your panels which would also lower their output.
To get around these potential issues as much as possible when installing your solar system:
1) Try to position your panels where they'll have clear access to sky without any obstructions blocking out direct sunlight.
2) Consider using tracking systems that move the orientation of your panel throughout the day following sun's path.
3) Regular maintenance including cleaning off dust or debris from panel surface would help ensure optimal performance.
4) Install additional storage batteries so excess power generated during sunny periods can be stored for use during less sunny times or nighttime.
In summary: Despite some potential challenges due mainly to weather conditions and possible shading issues; Athens Georgia offers good potential for generating power via Solar PV, especially during spring and summer months.
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 Athens, Georgia
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.9332, Longitude: -83.3536 (Athens, 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 30° South in Athens, Georgia, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Athens, Georgia, United States (Lat/Long 33.9332, -83.3536) 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 Athens, 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 Athens, Georgia, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Athens, 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 Athens, Georgia, United States.
Our calculation method
- Solar Position:
We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination. - Shadow Projection:
We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle. - 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 Athens, Georgia, United States
Athens, Georgia, United States is located in the Piedmont region. This region is characterized by rolling hills and a relatively flat terrain which gradually slopes towards the coastal plain area. The city itself is known for its urbanized areas with several parks and green spaces.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping lands are ideal as they require less groundwork preparation and can accommodate more panels. Areas should also have minimal shading from trees or buildings to maximize sunlight exposure.
In Athens, potential suitable areas could be:
1. Outskirts of the city: The outskirts of Athens have more open land that may be suitable for a large-scale solar farm.
2. Agricultural Land: There are several agricultural lands around Athens which could potentially host solar panels without interfering with farming activities – a concept known as agrivoltaics.
3. Industrial Zones: Large rooftops in industrial zones could also be used for installing solar PV systems.
However, it's important to note that these suggestions would need thorough site assessments including environmental impact studies before proceeding with any installation work.
Additionally, Georgia has good annual sunshine levels (comparable to parts of Florida), making it generally well-suited for solar power generation across the state.
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!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Friday 19th of January 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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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.
