West Memphis, Arkansas is a moderately suitable location for year-round solar energy generation, though it experiences significant seasonal variation in solar output that potential installers should consider.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The location shows strong summer performance with solar panels producing 6.83 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity during the peak season. Spring also offers good production at 5.71 kWh per day per kW, making these the ideal times of year for solar generation at this location. Autumn production drops to 4.36 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.47 kWh per day per kW. This winter output represents less than 40% of summer production, indicating that residents should plan for significantly reduced solar generation during the colder months. For maximum year-round energy production, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 30 degrees facing south. This optimal angle is calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles throughout the year and weighting them according to solar irradiance data.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in West Memphis can impact solar panel performance:

• High humidity levels typical of the Mississippi River Delta region can reduce panel efficiency
• Frequent thunderstorms and severe weather during spring and summer months
• Potential for ice storms during winter that can damage panels or reduce output
• Dust and pollen accumulation, particularly during spring allergy seasons

Preventative Measures for Better Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, installers should implement several protective strategies. Panels should be mounted with adequate ventilation space underneath to combat humidity-related efficiency losses. This air circulation helps keep panels cooler and more productive. Installing panels with reinforced mounting systems and impact-resistant glass helps protect against hail damage from severe thunderstorms. Regular cleaning schedules become particularly important during pollen season to prevent buildup that blocks sunlight. For winter ice protection, panels should be installed at the optimal 30-degree angle, which naturally helps ice and snow slide off more easily than flatter installations. Some homeowners may also consider heating elements for panels in areas prone to extended ice coverage, though this adds to system costs.

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 West Memphis

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 35.1519, Longitude: -90.1774 (West Memphis, 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 West Memphis, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in West Memphis, United States (Lat/Long 35.1519, -90.1774) 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 West Memphis, 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 West Memphis, 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 West Memphis, 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 West Memphis, 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 West Memphis, United States

Topographical Features of West Memphis

West Memphis sits in the heart of the Mississippi River Delta region, characterized by remarkably flat terrain that extends across much of eastern Arkansas. The landscape around this area consists primarily of fertile alluvial plains that were formed over thousands of years by sediment deposits from the Mississippi River. These plains create an almost pancake-flat topography with minimal elevation changes across vast expanses of land. The region lies within what geographers call the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, where the land gently slopes from west to east toward the Mississippi River. The terrain is so level that elevation changes of even ten or twenty feet can be considered significant variations in this landscape. This flatness extends for miles in all directions from West Memphis, creating ideal conditions for large-scale development projects.

Drainage and Soil Characteristics

The area features numerous drainage ditches, small creeks, and seasonal wetlands that help manage water flow across these flat plains. The soil composition consists mainly of rich, dark alluvium deposited by centuries of river flooding. While this makes the region excellent for agriculture, it also means that some areas may require additional consideration for foundation stability in major construction projects. Agricultural fields dominate much of the surrounding landscape, with vast expanses of cotton, soybeans, and rice cultivation stretching across the horizon. These fields are typically arranged in large, rectangular plots that follow the flat contours of the land, creating a patchwork pattern visible from elevated viewpoints.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The exceptionally flat topography around West Memphis presents outstanding opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The most suitable areas would be the extensive agricultural plains stretching westward and southward from the city, where the terrain remains consistently level for miles without significant obstacles or elevation changes. Areas located approximately five to fifteen miles west and southwest of West Memphis offer particularly attractive conditions for solar development. These zones combine the ideal flat terrain with sufficient distance from the more densely populated areas near the Mississippi River. The agricultural fields in these directions provide large, unobstructed parcels of land that could accommodate extensive solar arrays without requiring significant grading or earthwork. The flat plains extending toward the Arkansas interior, particularly those currently used for row crop agriculture, would require minimal site preparation compared to more varied terrain. The absence of hills, valleys, or significant tree cover means that solar panels could be installed with consistent optimal orientation across large areas without concerns about shading from topographical features. Areas north and northeast of West Memphis, while still relatively flat, are more constrained by proximity to the Mississippi River and associated floodplain considerations. The southern approaches toward the Arkansas Delta region maintain the same beneficial flat characteristics and could support major solar installations, particularly on former or current agricultural lands where access infrastructure already exists.

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.