Dawson, Illinois, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a moderate potential for solar energy generation throughout the year. The location's solar production capabilities vary significantly across seasons, with peak performance during the summer months.

Seasonal Solar Output

Solar panels in Dawson can expect to generate the following daily electricity output per kilowatt of installed capacity:

• Summer: 6.53 kWh/day
• Spring: 5.34 kWh/day
• Autumn: 3.72 kWh/day
• Winter: 2.20 kWh/day

This pattern clearly shows that summer is the most productive season, followed by spring. The output drops significantly during autumn and reaches its lowest point in winter.

Optimal Panel Tilt

For fixed solar panel installations in Dawson, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 34 degrees facing south. This angle takes into account the location's latitude and the sun's position throughout the year, ensuring optimal exposure to sunlight across all seasons.

Best Times for Solar Generation

The most ideal time for solar energy generation in Dawson is from late spring through early fall. During this period, longer days and higher sun angles contribute to increased solar output. The months of May through September are particularly favorable, with June, July, and August being the peak months for solar production.

Potential Challenges and Solutions

While Dawson's location is generally suitable for solar energy, there are some factors that could impact production: 1. Winter weather: Snow and ice accumulation on panels can reduce efficiency. Installing panels at the optimal angle helps with snow shedding, and some systems may benefit from manual clearing during heavy snowfall. 2. Cloud cover: The region experiences partly cloudy conditions throughout the year. Using high-efficiency panels and micro-inverters can help maximize production even during overcast days. 3. Temperature fluctuations: Extreme heat in summer can slightly reduce panel efficiency, while cold winters may affect system components. Choosing temperature-resistant equipment and ensuring proper ventilation can mitigate these issues.

Overall, while Dawson faces some challenges, particularly in winter, it remains a viable location for solar energy production with proper system design and maintenance.

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 Dawson

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.8584, Longitude: -89.4587 (Dawson, 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 Dawson, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Dawson, United States (Lat/Long 39.8584, -89.4587) 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 Dawson, 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 Dawson, 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
24° South in Summer	44° South in Autumn	54° South in Winter	33° 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 Dawson, 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 Dawson, 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 Dawson, United States

The topography around Dawson, Illinois, United States (located at latitude 39.8584 and longitude -89.4587) is characterized by gently rolling plains typical of the Midwestern United States. This area is part of the vast Interior Plains region, which stretches across much of central North America. The landscape is predominantly flat to slightly undulating, with occasional low hills and shallow valleys. The terrain surrounding Dawson is primarily composed of fertile prairies and agricultural lands. The area's elevation is relatively consistent, averaging around 600 feet (183 meters) above sea level. This flat topography is a result of glacial activity during the last ice age, which smoothed out the landscape and deposited rich soil across the region.

Suitability for Large-Scale Solar PV

When considering areas nearby that would be most suited to large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, several factors come into play. The relatively flat terrain around Dawson offers numerous advantages for solar energy development. Open agricultural fields and prairies surrounding Dawson provide ample space for large solar arrays. These areas typically have minimal shading from trees or buildings, allowing for maximum sun exposure throughout the day. The lack of significant elevation changes also means that installation and maintenance of solar panels would be more straightforward and cost-effective. Ideal locations for large-scale solar PV projects would be on non-productive agricultural land or areas with poor soil quality. These sites would minimize the impact on valuable farmland while still taking advantage of the region's favorable topography. Additionally, areas close to existing electrical infrastructure, such as power lines and substations, would be particularly suitable as they would reduce the costs associated with connecting the solar installations to the grid. It's worth noting that while the topography is generally favorable, specific site assessments would be necessary to determine the most optimal locations. Factors such as local zoning regulations, proximity to residential areas, and environmental considerations would also need to be taken into account when planning large-scale solar PV projects in the vicinity of Dawson.

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.