Bethalto, Illinois, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations that are typical for this climate region.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows strong seasonal patterns. Summer delivers the highest production at 6.50 kWh per day per kilowatt of installed solar capacity, making it the peak generation period. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.30 kWh per day per kilowatt, offering excellent solar conditions as daylight hours increase and weather conditions improve. Autumn production drops to 3.94 kWh per day per kilowatt as the sun angle decreases and weather patterns shift. Winter presents the most challenging conditions, with output falling to just 2.37 kWh per day per kilowatt - less than half of summer production levels. For optimal year-round energy capture at this location, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 34 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual production by balancing the sun's varying elevation throughout the seasons.

Local Environmental Challenges

Several environmental and weather factors in the Bethalto area can significantly impact solar energy production:

• Severe thunderstorms and hail during spring and summer months
• Ice storms and heavy snow accumulation in winter
• High humidity levels that can reduce panel efficiency
• Dust and pollen buildup, particularly during agricultural seasons
• Potential tornado activity typical of the Midwest region

Protective Installation Measures

To maximize energy production despite these challenges, several preventative measures should be considered during installation. Hail-resistant tempered glass panels with higher impact ratings help protect against storm damage. Proper grounding and surge protection systems are essential given the area's thunderstorm activity. Snow guards and adequate panel spacing allow for natural snow shedding while preventing dangerous ice dams. Installing panels with sufficient ground clearance facilitates air circulation, reducing humidity-related efficiency losses and making cleaning more accessible. Regular maintenance scheduling becomes particularly important in this location. Professional cleaning services can address dust and pollen accumulation that would otherwise reduce output. Monitoring systems help identify performance drops quickly, allowing for prompt maintenance responses. The moderate solar potential combined with proper installation techniques and maintenance practices makes Bethalto a viable location for solar energy generation, though property owners should expect reduced winter production and plan accordingly for seasonal variations in energy output.

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 Bethalto

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 38.9115, Longitude: -90.0378 (Bethalto, 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 34° South in Bethalto, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Bethalto, United States (Lat/Long 38.9115, -90.0378) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 34° 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 Bethalto, 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 Bethalto, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 34° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
23° South in Summer	43° South in Autumn	54° South in Winter	32° 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 Bethalto, 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 Bethalto, 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 Bethalto, United States

Topography Around Bethalto

Bethalto sits in the American Bottom region of southwestern Illinois, positioned within the broad Mississippi River floodplain. This area features remarkably flat terrain that extends for miles in every direction, with elevations typically ranging between 400 and 450 feet above sea level. The landscape consists primarily of fertile agricultural land that was historically part of the Mississippi River's extensive floodplain system.

The region's topography is characterized by gentle, rolling prairie with minimal elevation changes. Small creeks and drainage channels meander through the area, creating subtle variations in the otherwise level terrain. To the east, the land gradually rises toward the bluffs that mark the edge of the American Bottom, while westward toward the Mississippi River, the terrain remains consistently flat with occasional slight depressions that were once oxbow lakes or river channels.

Agricultural fields dominate the surrounding landscape, interspersed with small woodlots and residential developments. The soil composition consists largely of rich alluvial deposits left by centuries of river flooding, making this prime farmland but also providing stable foundations for large-scale development projects.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The exceptionally flat topography surrounding Bethalto creates ideal conditions for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The vast agricultural fields stretching in all directions offer extensive parcels of relatively inexpensive land with minimal grading requirements. These level surfaces eliminate the need for costly site preparation and allow for optimal panel positioning without concerns about shading from terrain features.

Areas immediately south and west of Bethalto present particularly attractive opportunities for solar development. These zones feature large, contiguous agricultural parcels with excellent access to existing electrical transmission infrastructure. The proximity to major power lines and substations that serve the greater St. Louis metropolitan area reduces connection costs and complexity.

The open prairie landscape provides unobstructed exposure to sunlight throughout the day, with minimal interference from hills, ridges, or dense forest cover. The relatively sparse tree coverage in agricultural areas means fewer obstacles to optimal panel placement and reduced maintenance concerns related to vegetation management.

Transportation access represents another advantage for solar development in this region. The flat terrain and existing road network facilitate the movement of heavy equipment and materials needed for construction and maintenance. Major highways and rail lines traverse the area, providing multiple options for logistics support during project development phases.

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.