Solar PV Analysis of Naperville, United States
Naperville, Illinois is a fairly good location for year-round solar energy production, but there are better times of the year than others. In simpler terms, during summer and spring, you can expect to generate more electricity from your solar panels because the days are longer and the sun is out more. On average in Naperville, during summer you can expect about 6.28 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. During spring it's slightly less at around 5.34 kWh/day per kW.
However, in autumn and winter when days are shorter and there’s less sunlight available due to cloud cover or snowfall, your solar panels will produce less electricity - about 3.45 kWh/day per kW in autumn and only around 2.41 kWh/day per kW in winter.
If you're installing fixed position solar panels here, they should be tilted at an angle of about 36 degrees facing south to get the most sunlight throughout the year.
There could be some local factors that might affect how much energy your solar panels produce though - things like weather conditions or environmental issues specific to this area.
For instance:
1) Winter Snow: In Naperville winters can be quite snowy which could cover up your solar panels reducing their output significantly until cleared off.
Prevention: You can install automated panel cleaning systems or simply clear off snow manually if it accumulates on them too much.
2) Cloudy Days: The region does experience a number of cloudy days throughout the year which would reduce power generation.
Prevention: There isn't much that can be done for this issue other than ensuring optimal placement and angle setup as mentioned earlier so that when sun is available maximum power gets generated.
3) Shade: If there are tall buildings or trees nearby that cast shade over where your panels are located then they won’t work as efficiently.
Prevention: Before installing panels, conduct a thorough site assessment to ensure the location is free from shadows throughout the day and year.
In conclusion, while Naperville isn't the perfect spot for solar power due to its seasonal variations in sunlight and potential weather issues, with careful planning and maintenance it can still be a viable option for generating renewable energy.
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 Naperville
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 41.7057, Longitude: -88.1946 (Naperville, 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 Naperville, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Naperville, United States (Lat/Long 41.7057, -88.1946) 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 Naperville, 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 Naperville, 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 | 45° South in Autumn | 56° South in Winter | 34° 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 Naperville, 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 Naperville, 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 Naperville, United States
Naperville is located in northeastern Illinois, within the Chicago metropolitan area. The topography of this region is generally flat to gently rolling, characteristic of the Midwestern prairie landscape. It's part of the Great Lakes Basin with many streams and rivers flowing through it.
The relatively flat nature of this area makes it well-suited for large-scale solar PV installations. Large open areas without significant tree cover or shading would be ideal locations for solar farms. These could include agricultural lands that are not currently in use or have low productivity, brownfield sites (previously developed land that's not currently in use), and rooftops of large commercial or industrial buildings.
However, specific site selection would require a more detailed study that considers factors such as local zoning regulations, proximity to power grids, soil conditions, potential environmental impacts etc.
It's worth noting that Illinois has been making significant strides in increasing its renewable energy capacity including solar power generation due to supportive state policies like the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA).
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!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Wednesday 27th of March 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.
