Powell, Tennessee, located in the Northern Temperate Zone at coordinates 36.0318, -84.028, 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 typical patterns for the southeastern United States. Summer provides the highest energy production at 6.45 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the peak season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best performing season with 5.48 kWh per day per kW, offering excellent energy production as daylight hours increase and temperatures remain moderate. Autumn sees a notable decline to 3.97 kWh per day per kW as the sun angle decreases and weather patterns shift. Winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.33 kWh per day per kW, representing less than half of summer production levels.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For maximum year-round energy production at Powell, Tennessee, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 31 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize total annual solar output by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year, Earth's elliptical orbit, and local solar irradiance patterns.

Local Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several regional factors can significantly impact solar energy production in Powell, Tennessee:

• High humidity and frequent cloud cover: The southeastern climate brings substantial moisture and cloud formations, particularly during summer months, which can reduce solar irradiance even during peak season
• Severe weather events: The region experiences thunderstorms, occasional ice storms, and potential tornado activity that can damage solar installations
• Tree coverage and vegetation: East Tennessee's heavily forested landscape can create shading issues, especially as trees mature over the 25-30 year lifespan of solar systems
• Atmospheric haze and pollution: The Tennessee Valley can trap pollutants and create hazy conditions that reduce solar panel efficiency

Preventative Measures for Enhanced Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective: Professional site assessment should include detailed shading analysis throughout different seasons, accounting for both existing vegetation and projected tree growth. Installing panels with adequate clearance from tree lines and considering selective tree trimming can maintain optimal sun exposure over time. Choosing high-quality mounting systems designed for severe weather conditions helps protect against storm damage. Ground-mount systems should use deep concrete foundations, while roof-mounted systems require proper structural analysis and hurricane-rated mounting hardware. Regular maintenance becomes crucial in this climate. Implementing a cleaning schedule to remove pollen, dust, and organic debris will maintain panel efficiency. Installing monitoring systems allows for quick identification of performance issues caused by weather or environmental factors. Selecting solar panels and inverters rated for high humidity and temperature fluctuations ensures reliable operation in Tennessee's variable climate. Anti-reflective coatings and panels designed to perform well in diffuse light conditions can help maintain production during cloudy periods.

Overall Assessment

While Powell, Tennessee faces some environmental challenges for solar energy production, proper planning and installation techniques can effectively address most concerns. The location offers reasonable solar potential, particularly during spring and summer months, making it a viable option for solar energy generation when appropriate measures are taken to mitigate local environmental factors.

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 Powell, Tennessee

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 36.0318, Longitude: -84.028 (Powell, Tennessee, 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 Powell, Tennessee, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Powell, Tennessee, United States (Lat/Long 36.0318, -84.028) 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 Powell, Tennessee, 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 Powell, Tennessee, 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	51° 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 Powell, Tennessee, 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 Powell, Tennessee, 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 Powell, Tennessee, United States

Topographical Features Around Powell

Powell is situated in the eastern Tennessee region, nestled within the rolling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The landscape surrounding this community is characterized by moderate elevation changes, with the terrain gradually rising toward the northeast where the Cumberland Mountains form a prominent backdrop. The area sits at approximately 1,000 feet above sea level, positioned in a transitional zone between the Tennessee Valley to the south and the more mountainous terrain to the north and east. The immediate vicinity features a mix of gentle hills and valleys, typical of the Ridge and Valley province that extends throughout much of eastern Tennessee. These undulating landforms create a series of ridgelines running predominantly in a northeast-southwest direction, interspersed with broader valley floors where much of the development has occurred. The Clinch River flows roughly ten miles to the northwest, creating additional low-lying areas and floodplains in that direction.

Terrain Characteristics and Land Use

The topography around Powell consists primarily of moderate slopes ranging from gentle inclines to more pronounced hillsides. Many of the ridgetops and upper slopes remain forested, while the lower elevations and valley floors have been cleared for residential development, agriculture, and commercial use. The soil composition varies from clay-based materials on the slopes to more fertile alluvial deposits in the valley bottoms. Elevation changes throughout the region typically range from about 800 feet in the lowest valley areas to over 1,400 feet on the higher ridgelines within a few miles of Powell. This creates a relatively moderate relief that avoids the extreme slopes found further east in the Great Smoky Mountains while still providing enough topographical variation to influence local weather patterns and drainage.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for extensive solar photovoltaic installations would be found on the south-facing slopes and ridgetops within a 10 to 15-mile radius of Powell. These elevated positions offer several advantages, including reduced shading from surrounding terrain and vegetation, better air circulation for cooling equipment, and typically fewer restrictions from existing development. Particularly promising areas lie along the broader ridgelines that extend southwest toward Knoxville and southeast toward the Smoky Mountains. These locations feature relatively gentle grades on their southern exposures, making construction and maintenance more feasible while maximizing solar exposure throughout the day. The ridge systems also tend to have less dense forest cover on their southern faces due to historical logging and agricultural practices. The valley floors, while offering flat terrain that might seem ideal for solar installations, present several challenges including potential shading from surrounding hills during morning and evening periods, higher humidity levels, and greater competition with existing agricultural and residential land uses. Additionally, many valley areas may have seasonal flooding concerns or wetland designations that could complicate large-scale development. Areas to the west and southwest of Powell, where the terrain becomes more gently rolling as it approaches the Tennessee Valley proper, also present good opportunities for solar development. These locations combine relatively flat topography with fewer environmental constraints while maintaining reasonable proximity to existing electrical infrastructure and transportation networks.

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.