Baraboo, Wisconsin, in the United States, offers a variable environment for solar PV energy generation throughout the year, with its location in the Northern Temperate Zone creating distinct seasonal patterns in solar productivity.

Seasonal Solar Production

Solar panels in Baraboo demonstrate significant seasonal variation in energy output. During summer months, production peaks at an impressive 6.35kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows as the second most productive season with 5.14kWh/day. Fall productivity drops to 3.23kWh/day, while winter sees the lowest output at just 2.19kWh/day per kilowatt installed.

This pattern creates a nearly 3:1 ratio between summer and winter production, highlighting the substantial seasonal differences in this northern location. The combined spring and summer seasons (roughly April through September) represent the prime solar generating period, delivering approximately 70% of the annual solar energy potential.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed panel installations in Baraboo, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 38 degrees facing South. This specific angle optimizes the annual solar harvest by balancing seasonal variations and accounting for the Earth's elliptical orbit.

Environmental Considerations

Several environmental factors in Baraboo can affect solar production:

• Snow accumulation presents a significant challenge during winter months, potentially covering panels and reducing already diminished winter output. Snow-shedding mounting systems with steeper angles and regular clearing protocols can help mitigate this issue.
• The region experiences cloudy conditions throughout fall and winter, contributing to the lower production figures during these seasons. This is an inherent limitation that system sizing must account for.
• Deciduous tree coverage can be problematic if not managed properly, especially as foliage returns in spring. Careful site assessment and strategic tree trimming may be necessary.

To maximize production despite these challenges, installations should incorporate elevated mounting to reduce snow buildup, microinverters or optimizers to minimize the impact of partial shading, and regular maintenance schedules. Additionally, oversizing the system to account for the significant winter production drop can help ensure adequate year-round energy supply.

While Baraboo may not be ideal for solar compared to sunnier locations, proper system design addressing these seasonal variations can still result in a viable renewable energy solution, particularly when taking advantage of the productive spring and summer 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 Baraboo

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.484, Longitude: -89.7455 (Baraboo, 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 38° South in Baraboo, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Baraboo, United States (Lat/Long 43.484, -89.7455) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 38° 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 Baraboo, 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 Baraboo, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 38° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
27° South in Summer	47° South in Autumn	57° South in Winter	36° 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 Baraboo, 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 Baraboo, 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 Baraboo, United States

The Baraboo area, situated in south-central Wisconsin, features a remarkably diverse topography shaped primarily by glacial activity during the last Ice Age. The most distinctive topographical feature is the Baraboo Range, an ancient quartzite monadnock that rises dramatically from the surrounding landscape. These bluffs, sometimes called the Baraboo Hills, represent exposed portions of a 1.5 billion-year-old mountain range, making them among the oldest rock formations in North America. The city of Baraboo itself sits in a valley between the north and south ranges of these quartzite bluffs. The valley floor is relatively flat, created by glacial outwash and alluvial deposits from the Baraboo River which meanders through the city. This river has carved its own smaller valleys and floodplains within the broader landscape.

Glacial Influence

The topography around Baraboo shows the dramatic boundary between glaciated and unglaciated terrain. The eastern portion of the area was covered by the most recent glaciation (Wisconsinan), while the western portion remained untouched as part of the Driftless Area. This created a landscape of terminal moraines, drumlins, and kettle ponds to the east, contrasting with the more deeply eroded, stream-dissected terrain to the west. Devil's Lake, a prominent natural feature just south of Baraboo, exemplifies this glacial history. The lake fills a gorge that was dammed at both ends by glacial deposits, creating a stunning body of water surrounded by 500-foot quartzite cliffs.

Surrounding Landscapes

Moving away from the Baraboo Range, the landscape transitions to gently rolling hills and plains, particularly to the north and east. The Wisconsin River flows just south of the Baraboo Hills, creating a broad valley with sandy terraces and occasional wetlands. This river valley represents another significant topographical feature of the region. The overall elevation in the area ranges from approximately 800 feet above sea level in the river valleys to over 1,400 feet at the highest points in the Baraboo Range. This variation creates distinct microclimates and ecological zones throughout the region.

Solar PV Potential

For large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, the most suitable areas near Baraboo would be the flat to gently rolling agricultural lands primarily to the east and northeast of the city. These areas offer several advantages: The relatively level terrain requires minimal grading, reducing construction costs and environmental impact. The open agricultural fields provide large contiguous spaces necessary for utility-scale solar development. The areas east of Baraboo generally have fewer steep slopes and forested sections that would complicate installation or reduce efficiency. The river valleys, particularly portions of the Wisconsin River valley south of the Baraboo Range, also offer potential for solar development on their broader, flatter sections. These areas typically have well-drained sandy soils that provide stable foundations for solar array infrastructure. Areas to avoid would include the steep slopes of the Baraboo Range itself, wetland areas along the rivers, and heavily forested sections that would require significant clearing. The more rugged terrain of the Driftless Area to the west, with its numerous hills and valleys, would generally be less suitable for large-scale solar installations due to increased shading concerns and construction challenges. The agricultural plains extending toward Portage (east) and toward Wisconsin Dells (northeast) represent the most promising zones for substantial solar PV development, combining favorable topography with proximity to existing electrical infrastructure and transmission corridors.

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.