Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, located in the Northern Temperate Zone of the United States, offers varying potential for solar energy generation throughout the year. This location experiences significant seasonal fluctuations in solar energy production that potential solar adopters should consider.

Seasonal Solar Production

Solar panels in Fond du Lac produce their highest output during summer months, generating approximately 6.35kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows as the second most productive season with 5.21kWh/day. Energy production drops considerably during autumn to 3.20kWh/day, with winter showing the lowest output at just 2.13kWh/day per kilowatt installed.

This seasonal variation means that a solar installation will produce roughly three times more energy in summer than in winter. The substantial difference highlights the importance of designing systems that can meet energy needs even during low-production months or incorporating alternative energy sources for winter.

Optimal Installation Angle

For fixed-panel installations in Fond du Lac, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round solar production is 38 degrees facing South. This specific angle has been calculated to optimize annual energy harvest based on the location's latitude and seasonal sun paths, accounting for Earth's elliptical orbit and weighted by daily PV potential.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several significant factors can impact solar production in Fond du Lac:

• Snow accumulation during winter months can temporarily reduce or block panel output, requiring periodic clearing or the installation of panels at steeper angles to promote natural snow shedding
• Cloudy weather patterns common to the Upper Midwest region reduce direct sunlight exposure, particularly during late fall and winter
• Potential tree shading, especially from deciduous trees that may partially shade panels during spring and summer when they're leafed out

To mitigate these challenges, solar installations in Fond du Lac should incorporate snow-shedding panel mounts, regular maintenance plans for snow removal, careful site assessment to minimize shading issues, and potentially microinverters or power optimizers to reduce the impact of partial shading on overall system performance.

While not ideal for year-round consistent production compared to sunnier regions, Fond du Lac still offers viable solar potential, particularly from late spring through early fall when approximately 70% of the annual solar energy can be harvested.

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 Fond Du Lac

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.765, Longitude: -88.6057 (Fond Du Lac, 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 Fond Du Lac, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Fond Du Lac, United States (Lat/Long 43.765, -88.6057) 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 Fond Du Lac, 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 Fond Du Lac, 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
28° South in Summer	48° 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 Fond Du Lac, 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 Fond Du Lac, 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 Fond Du Lac, United States

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin is situated at the southern edge of Lake Winnebago in the eastern part of the state. The name "Fond du Lac" translates from French as "bottom of the lake," aptly describing its position at the southern terminus of Wisconsin's largest inland lake. The topography of this region was largely shaped by glacial activity during the last ice age, resulting in a varied landscape with distinctive features. The city itself sits in a relatively flat basin area at an elevation of approximately 750 feet (229 meters) above sea level. This basin is part of the larger Eastern Ridges and Lowlands geographical province of Wisconsin. Moving outward from the lake, the terrain gradually transitions from flat lakeside plains to gently rolling hills. The Niagara Escarpment, a significant geological feature that extends from New York state through Wisconsin, passes near Fond du Lac, creating areas of elevated terrain to the east.

Surrounding Landscape Features

To the west of Fond du Lac, the topography becomes more varied as it transitions toward the Western Upland region. Here, the landscape features more pronounced hills and valleys, with some areas showing elevation changes of 100-200 feet. The Horicon Marsh, one of the largest freshwater marshes in the United States, lies southwest of Fond du Lac, creating a vast flat wetland area. To the east and southeast, the land rises more dramatically toward the Kettle Moraine region, formed when glacial deposits created distinctive hills and depressions. This area features more significant elevation changes, with some hills rising several hundred feet above the surrounding terrain. The northern approach to Fond du Lac is dominated by Lake Winnebago, a massive glacial lake covering about 215 square miles with relatively flat shorelines and minimal elevation changes near the water.

Potential for Solar PV Development

For large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, several areas around Fond du Lac show promise based on topographical considerations. The most suitable locations would be: The flat agricultural lands to the south and southwest of the city offer ideal conditions for solar farms. These areas feature minimal slope, good drainage, and few natural obstructions. The open farmland provides extensive contiguous spaces that could accommodate large arrays without significant grading or land preparation costs. The gently rolling terrain to the west also presents opportunities, particularly on south-facing slopes which naturally maximize solar exposure. These areas, while requiring some additional engineering compared to perfectly flat land, can actually benefit from their orientation toward the sun's path. Areas east of the city, before reaching the more dramatic Kettle Moraine formations, contain plateaus and gentler slopes that could support solar installations. However, care would need to be taken to avoid the steeper hillsides and more environmentally sensitive regions of the Kettle Moraine. The flat areas northwest of the city, extending away from Lake Winnebago, combine favorable topography with proximity to existing transmission infrastructure, making them particularly attractive for development. Less suitable areas include the immediate lakefront properties, which have higher land values and alternative uses, and the more rugged portions of the Kettle Moraine to the east and southeast, where construction would be more challenging and potentially cause greater environmental disruption. The wetland areas to the southwest, particularly around Horicon Marsh, would be inappropriate for development due to their ecological significance and protected status.

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.