Paris, Tennessee, United States offers moderate solar energy generation potential throughout the year, though with significant seasonal variation typical of its Northern Temperate Zone location at coordinates 36.3031, -88.3126.

Seasonal Solar Production

The location experiences its peak solar generation during summer months, producing 6.51 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.63 kWh per day per kW, making these warmer months ideal for solar energy production. Autumn sees a notable decline to 4.14 kWh per day per kW, while winter represents the lowest production period at just 2.49 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. This winter reduction is typical for temperate locations due to shorter days and lower sun angles.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For fixed panel installations at this Paris, Tennessee location, the ideal tilt angle is 31 degrees facing south to maximize total year-round solar production. This angle is calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles throughout the year and weighting them by solar irradiance data to determine the optimal compromise for annual energy generation.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in this Tennessee location can impact solar panel performance:

• High humidity levels common in Tennessee can reduce panel efficiency and promote dust accumulation
• Severe weather events including thunderstorms, hail, and occasional ice storms
• Tree coverage and vegetation growth that can create shading issues
• Atmospheric haze and air quality variations affecting solar irradiance

Preventative Measures for Better Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective: Regular cleaning schedules help combat humidity-related dust and debris buildup on panels. Installing panels with adequate spacing allows for proper air circulation, reducing moisture-related efficiency losses. Choosing panels rated for severe weather conditions and using reinforced mounting systems protects against storm damage. Proper grounding and surge protection equipment safeguards against lightning strikes common in Tennessee's thunderstorm season. Careful site selection away from large trees and strategic trimming of nearby vegetation prevents shading issues. Installing panels at locations with good southern exposure and minimal obstructions ensures optimal sun access throughout the day. Using micro-inverters or power optimizers can minimize the impact when partial shading does occur, allowing unshaded panels to continue operating at full capacity even when others are partially blocked.

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 Paris, Tennessee

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 36.3031, Longitude: -88.3126 (Paris, 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 Paris, Tennessee, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Paris, Tennessee, United States (Lat/Long 36.3031, -88.3126) 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 Paris, 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 Paris, 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 Paris, 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 Paris, 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 Paris, Tennessee, United States

Topographical Features Around Paris, Tennessee

Paris, Tennessee sits in the western portion of the state within Henry County, positioned in a region characterized by gently rolling hills and relatively modest elevation changes. The area lies within the broader Tennessee River valley system, which creates a landscape of undulating terrain with gradual slopes rather than dramatic elevation shifts. The topography here is typical of the western Tennessee Highland Rim, where the land features a mix of low ridges, shallow valleys, and broad, open areas that transition smoothly between higher and lower elevations. The terrain around Paris generally ranges from approximately 400 to 600 feet above sea level, with the highest points occurring on the ridgetops and the lowest elevations found near creek bottoms and the Tennessee River corridor to the north. Kentucky Lake, formed by the damming of the Tennessee River, creates the northern boundary of the region and influences the local topography with its extensive shoreline and associated floodplains.

Drainage Patterns and Land Features

The area's drainage is dominated by several creek systems that flow northward toward the Tennessee River, creating a dendritic pattern of valleys and ridges. These waterways have carved gentle valleys through the landscape, leaving behind broad, relatively flat bottomlands interspersed with rolling uplands. The soil composition varies from creek bottom alluvium to upland clay and loam mixtures, with bedrock consisting primarily of limestone and sandstone formations typical of the Highland Rim region. Agricultural use has historically shaped much of the landscape, resulting in cleared fields, pastures, and woodlots that create an open, rural character. The combination of farming activities and natural topography has produced a patchwork of open spaces and forested areas, with many fields occupying the flatter portions of ridgetops and broader valley floors.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations around Paris would be the broad, relatively flat ridgetops and the gently sloping upland areas that face south or southwest. These elevated positions offer several advantages including minimal shading from surrounding terrain, good air circulation for equipment cooling, and typically well-drained soils that facilitate construction and maintenance access. The agricultural fields on the broader ridgetops northeast, southeast, and southwest of Paris present particularly attractive opportunities for solar development. These areas combine favorable topography with existing cleared land, reducing the environmental impact and development costs associated with forest clearing. The gentle slopes in these areas, typically ranging from flat to moderate grades of less than 15 percent, are ideal for conventional ground-mounted solar array configurations. Areas closer to Kentucky Lake and the Tennessee River corridor, while offering flat terrain, may face challenges related to flood risk, wetland regulations, and higher humidity levels that could affect equipment performance and maintenance requirements. The creek valleys and bottomlands throughout the region, despite being level, often have similar limitations due to periodic flooding and environmental sensitivities. The upland areas south and east of Paris offer another promising zone for solar development, where the topography features broad, gently rolling terrain with good southern exposure and minimal natural shading. These locations benefit from being elevated above the immediate influence of the river systems while maintaining the relatively gentle slopes that facilitate efficient solar array installation and maintenance operations.

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.