Camden, Arkansas, located in the Northern Sub Tropics at coordinates 33.5916, -92.8483, 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 varies considerably throughout the year. Summer provides the strongest performance at 6.69 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the peak season for energy generation. Spring follows as the second-best performing season with 5.48 kWh per day per kW, offering solid energy production during the transitional months. Autumn sees a notable decline to 4.47 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.56 kWh per day per kW. This winter output represents less than 40% of the summer peak, highlighting the seasonal dependency of solar generation at this latitude.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For fixed panel installations at Camden, Arkansas, the ideal tilt angle is 29 degrees facing south to maximize total year-round solar production. This angle represents the optimal compromise across all seasons, calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles and weighting them according to solar irradiance potential throughout the year.

Local Environmental Factors

Several environmental and weather factors specific to Camden, Arkansas could potentially impact solar energy production:

• High humidity and frequent cloud cover: The subtropical climate brings elevated moisture levels and regular cloud formation, particularly during summer months when thunderstorms are common
• Severe weather events: The region experiences thunderstorms, occasional tornadoes, and ice storms that can damage panels or reduce output
• Pollen and organic debris: Heavy tree coverage and agricultural activity in the area can lead to significant panel soiling from pollen, leaves, and dust
• Temperature effects: High summer temperatures and humidity can reduce panel efficiency below rated capacity

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies should be considered:

• Robust mounting systems: Use heavy-duty racking designed for high wind loads and potential hail impact
• Regular cleaning schedules: Implement quarterly professional cleaning or install automated cleaning systems to remove pollen and debris
• Adequate ventilation: Ensure proper airflow behind panels to reduce heat buildup and maintain efficiency
• Microinverters or power optimizers: Use these technologies to minimize the impact of partial shading from trees or debris
• Quality panel selection: Choose panels with strong warranties and proven performance in humid, high-temperature environments

Despite these environmental challenges, Camden's location still offers reasonable solar potential, particularly during the warmer months when energy demand for air conditioning typically peaks, making it a viable though not exceptional location for solar energy generation.

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 Camden, Arkansas

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 33.5916, Longitude: -92.8483 (Camden, Arkansas, 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 Camden, Arkansas, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Camden, Arkansas, United States (Lat/Long 33.5916, -92.8483) 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 Camden, Arkansas, 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 Camden, Arkansas, 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
17° South in Summer	38° 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 Camden, Arkansas, 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 Camden, Arkansas, 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 Camden, Arkansas, United States

Topography Around Camden, Arkansas

Camden sits in the south-central region of Arkansas, positioned within the West Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic province. The terrain around Camden is characterized by gently rolling hills and relatively low elevation changes, typical of the coastal plain environment that extends across much of southern Arkansas. The landscape features a mix of forested areas, agricultural lands, and wetlands, with the Ouachita River flowing through the region and creating some of the area's most distinctive topographical features.

The elevation around Camden generally ranges from about 200 to 400 feet above sea level, with the terrain gradually rising as one moves northward toward the Ouachita Mountains foothills. The immediate vicinity of Camden itself lies at approximately 200 feet elevation, with the land gently undulating in most directions. To the south and east, the topography becomes even flatter as it approaches the Mississippi River alluvial plain, while to the north and west, the terrain becomes more varied with increased relief.

The Ouachita River valley creates the most significant topographical variation in the immediate Camden area, cutting through the landscape and creating bluffs and bottomlands. Several smaller creeks and tributaries also contribute to the local drainage patterns, creating minor valleys and ridgelines throughout the region. These waterways have carved modest but noticeable changes in elevation across what would otherwise be relatively uniform coastal plain topography.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The areas most suitable for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations around Camden would be the relatively flat to gently sloping agricultural lands that extend primarily to the east and southeast of the city. These areas offer the combination of minimal topographical constraints, existing land use patterns that could accommodate solar development, and adequate space for utility-scale installations. The coastal plain topography in these directions provides extensive areas with slopes typically less than five percent, which is ideal for solar panel deployment and maintenance access.

The agricultural fields and pastureland scattered throughout the region represent particularly attractive opportunities for solar development. These areas often feature cleared land with minimal existing infrastructure constraints, good road access for construction and maintenance, and terrain that requires minimal grading or site preparation. The flat to gently rolling nature of much of this agricultural land means that solar installations could be designed with optimal panel orientation while minimizing earthwork costs.

Areas to the north and northwest of Camden, while still relatively gentle by Arkansas standards, present more topographical challenges due to increased elevation changes and more heavily forested terrain. The proximity to the Ouachita River and its tributaries also creates complications in some locations due to floodplain considerations and more irregular terrain. However, some elevated areas between creek valleys could still provide suitable sites, particularly where existing agricultural use has already cleared the land.

The region's generally open character, with a mix of agricultural and forest land use, provides multiple potential sites for solar development. The key advantages include the relatively stable geology of the coastal plain, minimal extreme weather exposure compared to other parts of Arkansas, and existing electrical infrastructure that serves the Camden area and could potentially accommodate additional renewable energy inputs to the grid.

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.