La Valle, Wisconsin represents a moderately suitable location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations typical of the Northern Temperate Zone climate.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location varies considerably throughout the year. Summer provides the strongest performance at 6.39 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it the ideal season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.05 kWh per day per kW, offering solid energy production as daylight hours increase and solar angles improve. Autumn sees a notable decline to 3.31 kWh per day per kW as the sun's angle decreases and weather patterns shift. Winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.27 kWh per day per kW, representing less than half of the summer output. For optimal year-round energy capture, solar panels at this location should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 38 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual production by balancing the sun's varying elevation throughout the seasons.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in La Valle can significantly impact solar energy generation:

• Snow accumulation during Wisconsin winters can completely block solar panels
• Ice formation creates both shading and potential structural stress on panels
• High humidity and frequent cloud cover during certain seasons reduce solar irradiance
• Severe weather including hail storms pose potential damage risks

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize solar production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective. Panels should be mounted at steeper angles when possible to encourage natural snow shedding, though this must be balanced against the optimal 38-degree angle for maximum annual output. Installing panels with adequate spacing from roof edges and obstacles allows for better air circulation and reduces snow drift accumulation. Using high-quality mounting systems rated for Wisconsin's wind and snow loads ensures structural integrity during severe weather events. Regular maintenance access should be planned during installation, as manual snow removal may occasionally be necessary during heavy accumulation periods. Additionally, selecting panels with anti-reflective coatings and robust tempered glass helps maintain performance during high-humidity conditions and provides better protection against hail damage.

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 La Valle

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.5721, Longitude: -90.1348 (La Valle, 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 La Valle, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in La Valle, United States (Lat/Long 43.5721, -90.1348) 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 La Valle, 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 La Valle, 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
27° South in Summer	47° 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 La Valle, 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 La Valle, 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 La Valle, United States

Topographic Features Around La Valle

La Valle sits in the heart of south-central Wisconsin's distinctive landscape, characterized by gently rolling hills and broad valleys that define much of the region's agricultural character. The area lies within the Driftless Region, a unique geological zone that escaped glaciation during the last ice age, resulting in a more varied and dissected terrain compared to the flatter glaciated plains found elsewhere in Wisconsin. The immediate vicinity around La Valle features moderate elevation changes, with hills typically rising 100 to 200 feet above the surrounding valleys. These undulating landforms create a patchwork of slopes facing various directions, interspersed with relatively flat bottomlands along creek corridors and former glacial outwash areas. The Baraboo River system influences much of the local drainage patterns, creating some of the flatter terraces and floodplains in the region.

Terrain Characteristics for Solar Development

The topography presents both opportunities and challenges for large-scale solar installations. The rolling nature of the landscape means that south-facing slopes could potentially capture excellent solar exposure, while north-facing slopes and heavily shaded valley bottoms would be less suitable for photovoltaic arrays. Many of the hilltops and ridge lines offer relatively open exposure, though careful site selection would be necessary to avoid areas with significant tree cover or steep gradients that would complicate construction and maintenance. The agricultural nature of much of the surrounding land means that many areas have already been cleared and maintained as open space, which could facilitate solar development. However, the undulating terrain would require careful engineering to optimize panel orientation and minimize shading between rows of solar arrays.

Most Suitable Areas for Large-Scale Solar PV

The most promising locations for substantial solar installations would likely be found on the broader, gentler slopes and plateau areas that extend southward and westward from La Valle. These areas typically offer more consistent grades and fewer dramatic elevation changes, making them more economically viable for large-scale development. Former agricultural fields on south and southwest-facing slopes would represent prime candidates, particularly those with gradual inclines of less than 15 degrees. The flatter terraces along major waterways could also provide suitable development sites, though flood risk and environmental considerations would need careful evaluation. Areas to the east and southeast of La Valle appear to have somewhat more favorable topographic conditions, with broader expanses of gently rolling terrain that could accommodate extensive solar arrays. The key would be identifying parcels large enough to achieve economies of scale while maintaining reasonable access to existing electrical infrastructure and transportation networks for construction and maintenance activities.

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.