Franklin Park, Illinois, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a moderate potential for solar energy generation throughout the year. The location's seasonal variations in solar output highlight both opportunities and challenges for solar PV installations.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Summer stands out as the most productive season, with an impressive 6.27 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. This high output makes summer an ideal time for solar energy generation in Franklin Park. Spring follows closely behind, delivering 5.30 kWh per day. This season provides excellent solar potential as daylight hours increase and temperatures become more favorable. Autumn sees a significant drop in solar production, with 3.39 kWh per day. While less productive than summer and spring, autumn still offers moderate solar potential. Winter presents the greatest challenge, with only 2.05 kWh per day. The shorter days and potential for snow cover contribute to this reduced output.

Optimizing Solar Installation

To maximize year-round solar production in Franklin Park, panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 36 degrees facing south. This orientation helps balance the seasonal variations in sun angle and daylight hours, ensuring optimal performance across all seasons.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several factors can impact solar production in Franklin Park: 1. Snow accumulation in winter can significantly reduce panel efficiency. Regular panel cleaning or installing panels at a steeper angle can help mitigate this issue. 2. Cloud cover, particularly prevalent in autumn and winter, can decrease solar output. Using high-efficiency panels and microinverters can help maximize production even in less-than-ideal conditions. 3. Temperature fluctuations between seasons can affect panel efficiency. Choosing temperature-resistant panels and ensuring proper ventilation during installation can help maintain consistent performance. By addressing these factors during the installation process, solar PV systems in Franklin Park can achieve better year-round energy production, making the most of the location's solar potential despite seasonal variations.

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 Franklin Park

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 41.935, Longitude: -87.8737 (Franklin Park, 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 36° South in Franklin Park, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Franklin Park, United States (Lat/Long 41.935, -87.8737) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 36° 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 Franklin Park, 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 Franklin Park, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 36° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
26° South in Summer	46° South in Autumn	56° South in Winter	35° 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 Franklin Park, 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 Franklin Park, 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 Franklin Park, United States

The topography around Franklin Park, United States, located at coordinates 41.935 latitude and -87.8737 longitude, is generally characterized by flat to gently rolling terrain. This area is part of the greater Chicago metropolitan region, situated in the vast Prairie Plains of the Midwest. The landscape is predominantly urban and suburban, with minimal natural elevation changes.

The terrain in and around Franklin Park is relatively level, with only slight variations in elevation. This flatness is a result of glacial activity during the last ice age, which left behind a mostly even surface. The area's elevation is approximately 650 feet (198 meters) above sea level, with minimal hills or valleys to speak of.

As for areas nearby that would be most suited to large-scale solar PV (photovoltaic) installations, there are a few factors to consider:

1. Open spaces: The best locations for solar farms would be areas with large, unobstructed open spaces. In the vicinity of Franklin Park, this might include former industrial sites, abandoned lots, or undeveloped land on the outskirts of the suburban areas.

2. Proximity to power infrastructure: Areas close to existing electrical substations or power lines would be advantageous for connecting solar installations to the grid.

3. Minimal shading: Locations with few tall buildings or trees that could cast shadows on solar panels would be ideal.

4. Zoning considerations: Areas zoned for industrial or agricultural use might be more easily repurposed for solar farms than residential zones.

Given these factors, some potential areas for large-scale solar PV near Franklin Park might include:

- Open spaces south of O'Hare International Airport, where there are fewer residential developments and more industrial zones.

- Undeveloped or underutilized land along major highways, such as I-294 or I-90, where there are often buffer zones between the road and residential areas.

- Former industrial sites or brownfields in nearby communities that are being considered for redevelopment.

It's important to note that any large-scale solar project would require extensive planning, environmental assessments, and approval from local authorities before implementation.

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.