Burton, Michigan, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers varying potential for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. This location experiences significant seasonal fluctuations in solar energy production, with summer months being substantially more productive than winter.

Seasonal Solar Production

The solar energy output at this location varies dramatically across seasons. Summer stands out as the most productive period, generating approximately 6.30kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Spring follows as the second most productive season with 5.33kWh/day. Production drops considerably in autumn to 3.12kWh/day, while winter sees the lowest output at just 1.92kWh/day per kW installed.

This pattern creates a ratio where summer production is more than three times higher than winter production, indicating significant seasonal variability. The location experiences its peak solar potential from late spring through early fall, with May through August likely being the optimal months for generation.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Burton, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 37 degrees facing South. This angle has been calculated to optimize annual energy harvest by accounting for the site's specific latitude and seasonal solar patterns.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several significant factors may affect solar production at this Michigan location:

• Snow accumulation during winter months can significantly reduce panel output, requiring regular snow removal or the installation of panels at steeper angles to promote snow shedding
• Cloud cover is substantial in the Great Lakes region, particularly during late fall and winter, contributing to the lower seasonal output
• Ice storms can damage equipment and block sunlight, necessitating durable mounting systems
• Tree cover and building shadows may be issues in suburban areas like Burton, requiring careful site assessment before installation

To mitigate these challenges, installations should include proper snow management systems, robust mounting hardware rated for Michigan's winter conditions, and potentially snow guards to prevent dangerous snow slides. Panel placement should be carefully planned to minimize shading from trees and structures, with tree trimming considered where appropriate.

While Burton's location isn't ideal for year-round solar production compared to sunnier regions, properly installed systems can still provide significant energy, particularly during the productive summer and spring months when demand for cooling may increase electricity needs.

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 Burton

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 42.9723, Longitude: -83.6617 (Burton, 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 37° South in Burton, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Burton, United States (Lat/Long 42.9723, -83.6617) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 37° 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 Burton, 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 Burton, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 37° 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	46° 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 Burton, 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 Burton, 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 Burton, United States

The terrain surrounding Burton, Michigan, predominantly features gently rolling hills and flat plains, characteristic of the broader southeastern Michigan landscape. This area, situated in Genesee County, has been shaped by glacial activity from the last ice age, resulting in a mix of moraine (accumulated glacial debris) and outwash plains. The elevation changes are modest, with gradual slopes rather than dramatic rises or valleys. Burton sits within the Flint River watershed, with the river itself flowing several miles to the northwest through the neighboring city of Flint. The landscape includes scattered wetlands, small ponds, and drainage creeks that feed into this river system. The natural topography has been significantly modified by human development, with residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, and transportation infrastructure covering much of the area.

Soil and Ground Conditions

The soils in this region typically consist of glacial till and lacustrine deposits—materials left by ancient glacial lakes. These soils generally range from sandy loams to clay loams, with varying drainage capabilities. In some lower-lying areas, particularly near water features, the soil may retain more moisture, while higher ground typically offers better drainage.

Potential Areas for Solar Development

For large-scale solar photovoltaic installations, the most suitable areas near Burton would be: The relatively flat agricultural lands extending east and southeast of Burton offer promising potential for solar development. These areas provide the necessary space for extensive arrays while featuring minimal topographical obstacles that might create shading issues. Former industrial sites in and around Burton and neighboring Flint represent another opportunity. These brownfield locations often feature large, open spaces with minimal tree cover and existing access to electrical infrastructure, making them potentially valuable for solar conversion projects. Areas along major transportation corridors, such as alongside I-69 and I-475, include some open spaces that could accommodate solar installations while benefiting from existing access infrastructure. The gently sloping south-facing hillsides found sporadically throughout the region would be particularly advantageous for solar collection efficiency, as they naturally orient toward the sun's path across the southern sky.

Topographical Challenges

Despite the generally favorable terrain, some aspects of the local topography present challenges for solar development. The numerous small wetland areas and drainage features require careful site planning to avoid environmental impacts and potential flooding risks. Additionally, while forest cover is not extensive compared to northern Michigan, there are scattered woodlots and tree lines that could create shading concerns for adjacent areas. The region's relatively dense suburban development pattern, particularly within Burton itself and nearby communities, limits the availability of large contiguous parcels needed for utility-scale solar projects. This urban fabric necessitates looking toward the more rural periphery for substantial solar development opportunities. The modest but present variations in elevation throughout the area require careful site assessment to minimize grading requirements and optimize solar exposure across large installations.

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.