Solar PV Analysis of Lebanon, Tennessee, United States
Lebanon, Tennessee, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a relatively favorable environment for solar energy generation throughout the year. The location's solar potential varies significantly across seasons, with peak performance during the summer months.
Seasonal Solar Performance
Summer stands out as the most productive season, with an impressive daily output of 6.44 kWh per kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely behind, generating 5.64 kWh/day. Autumn sees a noticeable decrease in production, yielding 4.06 kWh/day. Winter experiences the lowest output at 2.51 kWh/day, primarily due to shorter daylight hours and less direct sunlight.
Optimal Times for Solar Generation
The period from late spring through early fall presents the most ideal conditions for solar energy production in Lebanon. During these months, longer days and higher sun angles contribute to increased solar panel efficiency. However, even during the less productive winter months, the panels continue to generate a meaningful amount of electricity.
Panel Installation Considerations
To maximize year-round solar production, fixed panels should be installed at a tilt angle of 31 degrees facing south. This optimal angle takes into account the location's latitude and seasonal variations in sun position, ensuring the best overall performance throughout the year.
Environmental and Weather Factors
While Lebanon's climate is generally conducive to solar energy production, there are a few factors that could potentially impact efficiency:
- Occasional severe thunderstorms and hail, particularly during spring and summer, may pose a risk to solar panel integrity.
- Humid subtropical climate can lead to dust and pollen accumulation on panels, slightly reducing efficiency if not regularly cleaned.
Preventative Measures
To mitigate these environmental challenges, consider installing hail-resistant panels and implementing a regular cleaning schedule. Additionally, ensuring proper drainage around the installation site can help prevent water accumulation and potential damage during heavy rainfall events.
Overall, Lebanon, Tennessee, presents a good location for solar PV installations, with ample opportunity for energy generation throughout the year, particularly during the warmer months.
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 Lebanon, Tennessee
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 36.213, Longitude: -86.3011 (Lebanon, 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 Lebanon, Tennessee, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Lebanon, Tennessee, United States (Lat/Long 36.213, -86.3011) 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 Lebanon, 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 Lebanon, 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 | 52° 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 Lebanon, 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 Lebanon, Tennessee, 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 Lebanon, Tennessee, United States
The area around Lebanon, United States, which is located in central Tennessee, has a varied topography typical of the region. Lebanon sits in the eastern part of the Nashville Basin, a relatively flat to gently rolling area surrounded by higher terrain.
The immediate vicinity of Lebanon features mostly low-lying plains and gentle hills, with elevations ranging from about 500 to 700 feet above sea level. As you move east from Lebanon, the terrain gradually becomes more hilly and eventually transitions into the foothills of the Cumberland Plateau. To the west, the land remains relatively flat as it stretches towards Nashville.
Several small rivers and streams crisscross the area, including the Cumberland River to the north and the Stones River to the south. These waterways have carved shallow valleys into the landscape over time, creating some localized variations in elevation.
For large-scale solar PV installations, the areas best suited would be the flatter, open spaces to the west and southwest of Lebanon. These regions offer several advantages for solar energy production:
- They have fewer hills and less tree cover, which means less shading and more consistent sun exposure throughout the day.
- The relatively flat terrain makes construction and maintenance of solar arrays easier and more cost-effective.
- There are larger tracts of open land available, which is crucial for utility-scale solar projects.
- The proximity to existing infrastructure, such as roads and power lines, makes it easier to connect new solar installations to the grid.
However, it's important to note that specific site selection for solar PV would require detailed studies of local conditions, including soil stability, flood risks, and proximity to sensitive ecosystems. Additionally, zoning regulations and land use policies would need to be considered before any large-scale solar project could be implemented in the area.
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: Wednesday 7th of August 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.
