Solar PV Analysis of Muskego, United States
The location at Muskego, Wisconsin, United States is moderately ideal for generating energy via solar PV year-round. The amount of energy that can be generated varies by season, with the highest output in summer and the lowest in winter.
During summer, you can expect to generate around 6.30 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power. This drops to about 3.35 kWh/day in autumn and further down to about 2.29 kWh/day in winter before rising again to around 5.32 kWh/day in spring.
This means that the best time of year to generate solar energy at this location is during the summer months when sunlight is most abundant, followed by spring and autumn respectively while winter months will have the least productivity due to less sunlight.
For a fixed panel installation at this location, tilting your panels at an angle of 37 degrees facing south would maximize total year-round production from your solar PV system because it allows them to capture as much sunlight as possible throughout different times of day and seasons.
As for local factors that could impede solar production at this location: Muskego has a humid continental climate characterized by four distinct seasons with highly variable weather conditions which could affect consistent energy production from your panels especially during cloudy or snowy days when there's less sunlight available.
To prevent these issues from significantly impacting your energy generation: You might want to consider installing additional panels so you still get enough power even on less sunny days; also keeping panels clean and free from snow or debris would ensure they can effectively capture sunlight whenever it's available.
Furthermore, if trees or other structures are casting shadows on your panel installation area, trimming them back or choosing a more open site for installation might help maximize sun exposure hence better overall performance of your system.
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 Muskego
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 42.906, Longitude: -88.1232 (Muskego, 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 37° South in Muskego, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Muskego, United States (Lat/Long 42.906, -88.1232) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 37° 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 Muskego, 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 Muskego, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 37° 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 Muskego, 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 Muskego, 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 Muskego, United States
Muskego, United States is located in the state of Wisconsin. The topography of this area is characterized by flat to gently rolling terrain with a mix of urban and suburban development, agricultural lands, forests, and numerous lakes and wetlands.
For large-scale solar PV installations, areas that are most suited would be those with open and flat terrain for maximum sun exposure throughout the day. In Muskego's case, these could potentially be the agricultural lands or any large open spaces that are not heavily forested or developed.
However, it's important to note that suitability for solar PV also depends on other factors such as local climate (amount of sunlight), land use regulations (whether solar installations are allowed), environmental considerations (impact on local ecosystems), and proximity to power grids (for electricity transmission). These factors should all be considered when planning for large-scale solar PV 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 11th of February 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.
