Florence, Alabama, located in the Northern Sub Tropics at coordinates 34.8305, -87.656, 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 Florence shows a typical pattern for its latitude, with summer producing the highest yields at 6.12 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. Spring follows closely behind at 5.85 kWh per day per kW, making these two seasons the most productive for solar generation. Autumn drops to 4.35 kWh per day per kW, while winter shows the lowest production at just 2.69 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity. This seasonal variation means that solar panels in Florence will generate more than twice as much electricity during peak summer months compared to the winter period. The strong spring performance indicates that the location benefits from good solar conditions extending well beyond just the summer months.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For maximum year-round energy production at this Florence location, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 30 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 and weighting the angles based on solar irradiance data and daily photovoltaic potential.

Local Environmental Factors

Several environmental and weather factors in Florence, Alabama could potentially impact solar energy production:

• Humidity and Atmospheric Haze: The Northern Sub Tropical climate brings high humidity levels, especially during summer months, which can create atmospheric haze that reduces solar irradiance reaching the panels
• Thunderstorms: Alabama experiences frequent thunderstorms, particularly during late spring and summer, which can temporarily reduce solar output and pose installation challenges
• Dust and Pollen: The region's vegetation produces significant pollen during spring months, and dust accumulation from agricultural activities can coat solar panels
• Severe Weather: The area is susceptible to severe weather events including tornadoes and hailstorms that could damage solar installations

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several preventative measures should be considered:

• Regular Cleaning Schedule: Implement quarterly panel cleaning to remove pollen, dust, and other debris, with additional cleaning during peak pollen season in spring
• Robust Mounting Systems: Install heavy-duty mounting hardware rated for high wind loads and potential hail impact to withstand severe weather events
• Proper Drainage: Ensure adequate drainage around ground-mounted systems to prevent water accumulation during heavy rainfall periods
• Quality Inverters: Choose inverters with good heat tolerance and proper ventilation, as high humidity and temperatures can affect electronic components
• Strategic Placement: Position panels to minimize shading from deciduous trees while considering potential storm damage from falling branches

Despite these environmental considerations, Florence's solar potential remains reasonable for residential and commercial installations, particularly when proper preventative measures are implemented during the design and installation process.

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 Florence, Alabama

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 34.8305, Longitude: -87.656 (Florence, Alabama, 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 Florence, Alabama, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Florence, Alabama, United States (Lat/Long 34.8305, -87.656) 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 Florence, Alabama, 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 Florence, Alabama, 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	27° 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 Florence, Alabama, 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 Florence, Alabama, 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 Florence, Alabama, United States

Topographical Features Around Florence, Alabama

Florence sits in the northwestern corner of Alabama within the Tennessee River Valley, positioned along the southern bank of the Tennessee River. The city occupies relatively flat to gently rolling terrain that is characteristic of the Tennessee Valley region. This area represents part of the broader Appalachian Valley and Ridge province, though Florence itself lies in one of the flatter sections where the Tennessee River has carved out a wide valley floor over geological time.

The immediate landscape around Florence features modest elevation changes, with the city center sitting at approximately 500 feet above sea level. The terrain gradually rises as one moves away from the river, creating gentle hills and ridges that rarely exceed 200-300 feet in height above the valley floor. These rolling hills are interspersed with flat agricultural areas and broad, shallow valleys that drain toward the Tennessee River.

The Tennessee River itself serves as a major geographical feature, flowing from east to west through the region. The river has been dammed upstream and downstream of Florence, creating Wilson Lake to the east and Pickwick Lake to the west. These water bodies have helped create relatively stable water levels and have influenced the surrounding topography by creating areas of flat bottomland along their shores.

Soil and Land Use Patterns

The soils in the Florence area are predominantly formed from limestone bedrock, creating fertile agricultural land that has been extensively cultivated. Much of the surrounding countryside consists of farmland, with fields of cotton, corn, soybeans, and pasture land for cattle grazing. These agricultural areas typically feature large, open fields with minimal tree cover, creating expansive areas of relatively flat or gently sloping terrain.

Forested areas in the region are generally found on steeper slopes and ridgetops, while the flatter valley floors and gentle slopes have been cleared for agriculture. The remaining forests consist primarily of mixed hardwood species typical of the southeastern United States, including oak, hickory, and maple trees.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations around Florence would be the extensive agricultural areas that stretch south and west of the city. These areas offer several advantages for solar development, including relatively flat terrain that minimizes grading and construction costs, minimal tree cover that would require clearing, and good access to existing electrical transmission infrastructure.

The flat to gently rolling farmland extending toward the communities of Killen and Rogersville to the west presents particularly favorable conditions. These areas feature large, contiguous parcels of agricultural land with slopes generally less than five percent, which is ideal for solar panel installation. The proximity to major transmission lines that serve the Tennessee Valley Authority's electrical grid provides additional advantages for connecting large solar facilities to the power distribution network.

Areas immediately south of Florence, extending toward the Bankhead National Forest boundary, also offer good potential for solar development. While slightly more rolling than the western agricultural areas, much of this land remains suitable for solar installation and benefits from being relatively undeveloped with good transportation access via existing county roads and state highways.

The bottomlands near Wilson Lake and Pickwick Lake, while very flat, may present challenges due to periodic flooding and wetland regulations. However, areas of higher ground near these water bodies that remain relatively flat could be suitable for solar development, particularly where agricultural use has already established cleared, open landscapes.

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

Tell Us About Your Work

We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.

Feeling generous?

Share this with your friends!

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.