Neenah, Wisconsin shows moderate suitability for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations typical of its Northern Temperate Zone location. The solar output data reveals a clear pattern of higher production during warmer months and substantially reduced generation during winter.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Summer represents the peak solar generation period at this location, producing 6.45 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. This strong summer performance makes it an excellent time for solar energy production. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.11 kWh per day per kW, offering good solar generation as daylight hours increase and weather conditions improve. Autumn sees a notable decline to 3.13 kWh per day per kW as the region transitions toward winter conditions. Winter presents the most challenging period for solar generation, dropping significantly to just 2.08 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. For maximum year-round energy production from a fixed solar panel installation at Neenah, the optimal tilt angle is 38 degrees facing south. This angle is calculated by analyzing the sun's elevation throughout the year and weighting these angles according to solar irradiance potential.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

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

• Heavy snow accumulation during Wisconsin winters can cover panels and block sunlight
• Frequent cloud cover and overcast conditions, particularly during autumn and winter months
• Ice formation on panels during freezing periods
• Strong winds that can affect panel positioning and create debris issues

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize solar production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective. Installing panels at the optimal 38-degree tilt helps snow slide off more easily rather than accumulating on flat surfaces. This steep angle also improves winter sun exposure when the sun sits lower in the sky. Ensuring adequate spacing between panel rows prevents snow buildup and shading issues. Installing panels with sufficient ground clearance allows snow to fall away from the installation area. Using high-quality mounting systems designed for Wisconsin's wind loads and weather conditions ensures panels remain properly positioned. Regular maintenance becomes particularly important in this climate. Keeping panels clear of snow, ice, and debris during winter months can significantly improve energy production during the already-challenging low-production season. Some installations benefit from heated panel systems or easy-access designs that facilitate snow removal. Despite the winter production challenges, Neenah's strong summer and spring solar generation periods make it a reasonably viable location for solar energy, especially when proper installation techniques address the local environmental factors.

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 Neenah

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 44.1811, Longitude: -88.4762 (Neenah, 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 Neenah, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Neenah, United States (Lat/Long 44.1811, -88.4762) 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 Neenah, 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 Neenah, 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
28° South in Summer	48° South in Autumn	58° South in Winter	37° 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 Neenah, 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 Neenah, 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 Neenah, United States

Topographical Features Around Neenah

The landscape surrounding Neenah, Wisconsin is characterized by relatively gentle terrain typical of the upper Midwest. The area sits within the Eastern Ridges and Lowlands region, featuring rolling hills with modest elevation changes and numerous water bodies. Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin's largest inland lake, lies immediately to the east of the city, while the Fox River flows northeastward through the urban area toward Green Bay. The topography consists primarily of glacially-formed features, including drumlins, moraines, and outwash plains left behind by retreating ice sheets thousands of years ago. Elevation changes are generally gradual, with most areas ranging from approximately 750 to 900 feet above sea level. The terrain includes a mix of agricultural fields, scattered woodlots, wetlands, and developed areas, creating a patchwork landscape across the region.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for extensive solar photovoltaic installations would be the expansive agricultural fields that dominate the landscape west and southwest of Neenah. These areas offer several advantages including minimal topographical obstacles, existing cleared land, and generally good southern exposure. The relatively flat to gently rolling farmland provides ideal conditions for mounting solar arrays without requiring significant grading or earthwork. Areas along the higher elevations of the glacial ridges, particularly those running north-south through the region, present excellent opportunities for solar development. These elevated positions often provide unobstructed exposure to sunlight throughout the day while avoiding the shadowing effects that can occur in lower-lying areas surrounded by trees or buildings. The open agricultural zones extending toward Oshkosh to the southwest and toward Appleton to the west contain some of the most promising sites. These locations benefit from minimal tree coverage, good accessibility via existing farm roads, and proximity to electrical infrastructure. The gentle slopes in these areas are typically well-suited for optimal solar panel positioning without requiring extensive site preparation. Areas immediately adjacent to Lake Winnebago should generally be avoided for large installations due to environmental sensitivities, while the more heavily forested regions to the north and northwest would require significant clearing and may face greater regulatory challenges. The existing urban and suburban development patterns create a patchwork that limits opportunities for very large contiguous installations within the immediate vicinity of the city itself.

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.