Solar PV Analysis of Hanover Park, United States
Hanover Park, Illinois, is located in the Northern Temperate Zone of the United States. This location can be suitable for generating electricity using solar panels year-round, but it's not ideal compared to locations closer to the equator.
The amount of energy you can expect your solar panels to produce will change with each season. In summer, when days are longest and sunlight is most direct, you could get about 6.30 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. In autumn and spring, as days get shorter and sunlight becomes less direct, this output drops to around 3.35 kWh/day and 5.32 kWh/day respectively per kW installed. Winter sees the lowest production at about 2.29 kWh/day per kW due to shorter daylight hours and lower sun angles.
To maximize yearly energy production from your solar panels in Hanover Park, they should ideally be tilted at an angle of 36 degrees facing south; this ensures that they capture as much sunlight as possible over the course of a year.
However there are some factors that could potentially affect how much energy your solar panels produce here:
1) Weather: Illinois experiences a fair amount of cloud cover which could reduce how much sunlight reaches your panels especially during winter months.
2) Snow: During winter time snow can accumulate on top of your panels blocking out light completely until it melts or is removed
To mitigate these factors consider installing devices that track the sun so that they're always oriented towards it maximizing exposure even during cloudy days or seasons with low sun angles like winter time; also consider adding equipment designed specifically for removing snow from panel surfaces quickly after storms if feasible based on local weather patterns.
In conclusion while Hanover Park isn't necessarily an ideal location for generating power via solar PV due its relatively high latitude leading lower average daily sunshine hours particularly during winter months still worthwhile investment especially if steps taken to optimize panel orientation and mitigate potential issues related to local weather conditions.
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 Hanover Park
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 42.0003, Longitude: -88.1422 (Hanover 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 Hanover Park, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Hanover Park, United States (Lat/Long 42.0003, -88.1422) 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 Hanover 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 Hanover 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 Hanover 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 Hanover Park, 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 Hanover Park, United States
Hanover Park, United States is located in the state of Illinois. The topography around Hanover Park is primarily flat or gently rolling, characteristic of the Midwest region. It's part of the Chicago metropolitan area and largely suburban.
The large open spaces, such as agricultural lands or unused industrial areas nearby would be most suited for largescale solar PV due to their unobstructed exposure to sunlight. In addition, rooftops on large buildings like warehouses could also be potential sites for solar panel installation.
Furthermore, considering that Illinois has a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) which mandates that 25% of its electricity must come from renewable energy by 2025 with at least 6% from solar power specifically, there should be ample support for such projects in the state.
However, it's important to note that while flat terrain can make installation easier and potentially less costly – factors like local climate (annual hours of sunshine), land use regulations and proximity to transmission lines are equally if not more important when evaluating suitability for large-scale solar 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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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Sunday 5th of May 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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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.
