Solar PV Analysis of Eau Claire, United States
Eau Claire, Wisconsin is a decent location for year-round solar energy production, although it's not the most ideal. Solar panels there can produce an average of 6.64 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in the summer, 5.14 kWh/day in spring, 3.34 kWh/day in autumn, and only 2.32 kWh/day in winter for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity.
This means that during the longer days and higher sun angles of summer and spring, you'll get a good amount of electricity from your solar panels. However during autumn and especially winter when daylight hours are shorter and the sun is at a lower angle you'll see less power output.
To get the best results out of your solar panels over the course of a year at this location they should be tilted at an angle facing south by about 39 degrees which will help to capture more sunlight overall throughout different seasons.
There are some factors to consider that could potentially reduce how much power you generate from solar panels here though:
1) Snow: Being located in Wisconsin means Eau Claire gets quite a bit of snowfall during winter months which can cover up your solar panels reducing their ability to generate power until cleared off.
Prevention: You can install an automatic snow removal system or manually remove snow after storms to ensure maximum exposure to sunlight.
2) Cloudy Days: The area also has many cloudy days throughout the year which reduces sunlight reaching your panels thus lowering their output.
Prevention: Unfortunately there's not much one can do about cloud cover but having battery storage systems installed alongside your PV system would allow excess energy produced on sunny days to be stored for use on cloudier ones.
3) Trees/Shade: If there are many trees or other obstructions casting shadows on where you plan to install your PV system this will also decrease its effectiveness.
Prevention: Choose installation locations with minimal shading or consider trimming or removing any trees that cause significant shading.
Despite these potential challenges, solar power can still be a viable and sustainable energy source in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It just requires careful planning and installation to maximize 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 Eau Claire
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 44.7814, Longitude: -91.4866 (Eau Claire, 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 39° South in Eau Claire, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Eau Claire, United States (Lat/Long 44.7814, -91.4866) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 39° 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 Eau Claire, 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 Eau Claire, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 39° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28° South in Summer | 49° South in Autumn | 58° South in Winter | 38° 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 Eau Claire, 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 Eau Claire, United States.
Our calculation method
- Solar Position:
We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination. - Shadow Projection:
We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle. - 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 Eau Claire, United States
Eau Claire is located in the Chippewa Valley region of Wisconsin, United States. The topography around this region is characterized by rolling hills and flat plains with a mix of farmland, forests, and urban areas. The landscape is dotted with numerous lakes and rivers including the Eau Claire River from which the city gets its name.
The most suitable areas for large-scale solar PV installations would be flat or gently sloping lands that receive ample sunlight throughout the year. In this regard, unused farmlands or open fields could potentially be good locations for such installations as they typically have less shading from trees or buildings.
However, it's important to note that suitability for solar PV also depends on factors beyond just physical geography - things like local climate conditions (amount of annual sunshine), land use restrictions, proximity to power grids (for ease of connection), and potential environmental impacts all need to be considered when identifying suitable sites for large-scale solar energy projects.
In terms of specific nearby regions within Wisconsin that might be well-suited for large scale solar energy production based on their geographic features alone - some possibilities could include parts of Dunn County to the west or Clark County to the east both of which have significant amounts of open agricultural land.
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
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Tuesday 9th of April 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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.
