Georgia Solar Panel Performance Benchmarks
Last updated: 2026-04-08 · Solar Benchmark
Georgia Solar Panel Performance Benchmarks
A correctly installed 6 kW south-facing system at 30-degree tilt in Atlanta produces approximately 8,700 kWh per year, equal to a specific yield of 1,450 kWh/kW/year. Coastal Savannah runs slightly higher at 1,490 kWh/kW/year. North Georgia mountains fall to roughly 1,380 kWh/kW/year due to increased cloud cover and reduced solar resource.
Monthly Production Benchmarks
Reference system: 6 kW, south-facing, 30-degree tilt, Atlanta (33.7°N). Source: pvlib physics modeling, Open-Meteo ERA5 weather data.
| Month | Est. Production (kWh) | Daily Average (kWh/day) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 490 | 15.8 |
| February | 610 | 21.8 |
| March | 780 | 25.2 |
| April | 870 | 29.0 |
| May | 910 | 29.4 |
| June | 880 | 29.3 |
| July | 860 | 27.7 |
| August | 850 | 27.4 |
| September | 760 | 25.3 |
| October | 650 | 21.0 |
| November | 510 | 17.0 |
| December | 430 | 13.9 |
| Annual Total | 8,600 | 23.6 |
Note: Actual production varies with panel brand, shading, soiling, and inverter efficiency. These figures represent physics-derived benchmarks for a well-installed system with no shading losses.
Annual Benchmarks by System Size and Region
Estimated annual production (kWh) by system size and Georgia region. Based on pvlib modeling with Open-Meteo ERA5 climate data.
| System Size | Atlanta Metro | Savannah Coast | North GA Mountains | SW Georgia (Albany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | 5,800 | 5,960 | 5,520 | 6,040 |
| 6 kW | 8,700 | 8,940 | 8,280 | 9,060 |
| 8 kW | 11,600 | 11,920 | 11,040 | 12,080 |
| 10 kW | 14,500 | 14,900 | 13,800 | 15,100 |
| 12 kW | 17,400 | 17,880 | 16,560 | 18,120 |
Specific yield (kWh/kW/year): Atlanta ~1,450 | Savannah ~1,490 | North GA ~1,380 | Albany ~1,510
Climate Zones and Performance Ratio Targets
| Climate Zone | Representative City | Specific Yield (kWh/kW/yr) | Performance Ratio Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humid Subtropical (metro) | Atlanta | 1,450 | 0.78-0.83 |
| Humid Subtropical (coastal) | Savannah | 1,490 | 0.79-0.84 |
| Mountain/Upland | Dahlonega | 1,380 | 0.80-0.84 |
| SW Plains | Albany | 1,510 | 0.78-0.83 |
Performance ratio (PR) measures how efficiently a system converts available solar resource into AC electricity. Higher PR reflects lower real-world losses from heat, soiling, and wiring. Georgia's humid subtropical summers reduce PR primarily through temperature-related power losses and spring pollen soiling.
What Affects Georgia Solar Output
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Spring pollen soiling (March-April): Georgia experiences some of the highest pollen loads in the US. Heavy pine and oak pollen deposits on panels in March and April can reduce output by 3-6% during peak pollen weeks. Rainfall naturally clears most accumulation, but manual cleaning restores output faster.
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Summer heat and humidity: Panel power output drops approximately 0.4% for every degree Celsius above 25°C. Atlanta summer ambient temperatures routinely reach 32-35°C, driving panel surface temperatures above 55°C and causing real-world derating of 8-12% relative to STC-rated output on peak summer days.
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Regional irradiance variation: Southwest Georgia (Albany area) receives roughly 4% more annual solar radiation than Atlanta and 9% more than the North Georgia mountains. This difference compounds significantly over a system's 25-year life.
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Coastal humidity and salt air (Savannah): Coastal systems benefit from marginally higher irradiance but face increased soiling risk from salt aerosols. Connectors and mounting hardware require more frequent inspection than inland installations.
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Tilt and azimuth sensitivity: At 33.7°N latitude, deviating 15 degrees from true south reduces annual yield by approximately 3-5%. Flat roofs with east-west split arrays can partially compensate but will not match a true south-facing installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good annual output for a 6 kW system in Georgia?
A well-installed 6 kW system in Atlanta should produce 8,500-8,900 kWh per year. Savannah systems can reach 8,700-9,100 kWh annually. If your monitoring data falls more than 10% below these ranges for two consecutive months without a weather explanation, the system warrants a technical review. Production during December and January will be the lowest months, typically 430-610 kWh combined.
Why is summer production lower than spring in Georgia?
Georgia solar production peaks in April and May rather than June or July. After the spring equinox, days lengthen and irradiance rises, but panels stay relatively cool. By June and July, intense heat drives panel temperatures above 55°C, causing thermal derating that partially offsets the longer days. The result: May often outproduces July by 5-8% despite shorter days in May.
How much does pollen affect my solar panels?
Peak pollen season in Georgia runs from mid-March through late April. Studies on soiling losses in the Southeast show 3-6% production loss during peak pollen weeks. A single rainfall event typically restores most of this loss. Proactive cleaning in late February, before pollen season, and again in early May is the most cost-effective maintenance strategy for Georgia systems.
How do I get an independent benchmark for my Georgia system?
Enter your system's location, size, tilt, and azimuth at solarbenchmark.io. The tool runs pvlib physics modeling against Open-Meteo ERA5 historical weather data for your exact coordinates, producing a monthly production benchmark you can compare directly to your inverter or utility monitoring data. See the full methodology for data sources and assumptions.
Data: pvlib physics modeling + Open-Meteo ERA5 weather data | Last updated: 2026-04-08 | Solar Benchmark