New Glarus, Wisconsin presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations typical of the Northern Temperate Zone climate. The location experiences substantial differences in solar production throughout the year, making it important to understand both the opportunities and challenges for solar installations.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at New Glarus varies dramatically across the seasons. Summer provides the most productive period, generating 6.32 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. This represents the peak performance time when solar panels can operate at their highest efficiency. Spring offers the second-best production period with 5.20 kWh per day per installed kilowatt, making it another excellent time for solar generation. The combination of increasing daylight and favorable weather conditions contributes to strong performance during this season. Autumn sees a notable decline in production to 3.37 kWh per day per kilowatt, while winter presents the most challenging period with only 2.34 kWh per day per kilowatt. This winter performance represents just 37% of the summer output, highlighting the seasonal challenges faced by solar installations in this region.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For maximum year-round energy production at New Glarus, fixed solar panels should be tilted at 37 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize total annual output by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year and weighting the angles based on solar irradiance data that considers Earth's elliptical orbit.

Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several significant local factors can impede solar production at this Wisconsin location, requiring careful consideration during installation planning. Snow accumulation represents the most substantial challenge during winter months. Heavy snowfall can completely cover solar panels, eliminating energy production until the snow melts or is removed. Wisconsin's cold winters often mean snow can persist on panels for extended periods, particularly when temperatures remain below freezing. Ice formation poses another serious concern, as ice can not only block sunlight but also potentially damage panels if it accumulates heavily or creates uneven loading. The freeze-thaw cycles common in this climate can lead to repeated ice formation throughout the winter season. Cloud cover and overcast conditions are frequent in this region, particularly during autumn and winter months. Extended periods of cloudy weather can significantly reduce solar output even when panels are clear of snow and ice.

Preventative Measures for Enhanced Production

Several installation strategies can help maximize solar energy production despite these environmental challenges:

• Install panels at the optimal 37-degree tilt angle, which not only maximizes annual production but also helps snow slide off more easily than flatter installations
• Ensure adequate spacing between panel rows to prevent snow accumulation and allow for maintenance access
• Consider installing heating elements or snow-melting systems for critical installations where maximum winter production is essential
• Use high-quality mounting systems designed to handle significant snow and ice loads typical of Wisconsin winters
• Plan for regular maintenance access to safely remove snow when necessary

The steeper 37-degree angle naturally assists with snow shedding compared to flatter installations, as gravity helps clear panels more effectively. However, some manual snow removal may still be necessary during heavy snowfall periods to maintain winter production levels. Despite these seasonal challenges, New Glarus offers reasonable solar potential, particularly during the warmer months when energy demand for cooling may be higher. The strong summer and spring performance can help offset the reduced winter production, making solar installations viable when properly designed and maintained for the local climate 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 New Glarus

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 42.8128, Longitude: -89.6418 (New Glarus, 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 New Glarus, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in New Glarus, United States (Lat/Long 42.8128, -89.6418) 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 New Glarus, 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 New Glarus, 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	56° 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 New Glarus, 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 New Glarus, 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 New Glarus, United States

Topographical Features of New Glarus

New Glarus sits in the rolling hills of south-central Wisconsin, nestled within Green County's distinctive landscape. The terrain around this charming Swiss-themed community is characterized by gently undulating topography typical of the Driftless Area, a unique geological region that escaped glacial flattening during the last ice age. The elevation changes are moderate but noticeable, with the town itself positioned at approximately 800 feet above sea level.

The surrounding countryside features a mix of agricultural valleys and wooded ridgelines, creating a patchwork of farmland interspersed with natural areas. Rolling pastures and crop fields dominate much of the landscape, broken up by scattered woodlots and small streams that meander through the valleys. The Little Sugar River flows through the area, carving gentle valleys that add to the region's varied topography.

Hills in the vicinity typically rise 100 to 200 feet above the valley floors, creating moderate slopes that range from gentle to moderately steep. The ridgetops tend to be rounded rather than sharp, and many offer expansive views across the surrounding farmland. Wooded areas are commonly found on the steeper slopes and along waterways, while the more level ground has been converted to agricultural use over the past century and a half.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The best locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations around New Glarus would be the relatively flat to gently sloping agricultural areas that dot the landscape between the more pronounced hills. These areas offer several advantages for solar development, including easier access for construction equipment, reduced grading requirements, and more straightforward installation procedures.

South-facing slopes with gradual inclines present particularly attractive opportunities, as they naturally orient solar panels toward the sun while maintaining manageable terrain conditions. Many of the agricultural fields in the area feature these favorable characteristics, especially those that have been used for row crops rather than pasture, as they tend to be on more level ground.

The elevated ridgetops and plateau areas also merit consideration for solar development, particularly those that have been cleared for agriculture. These locations benefit from reduced shading from surrounding terrain and vegetation, though they may require more careful consideration of wind exposure and access roads. The relatively open nature of much of the agricultural landscape means that large solar installations could potentially be sited without significant interference from existing tree lines or buildings.

Areas to avoid for large-scale solar development would include the steeper hillsides, heavily wooded sections, and low-lying areas near streams where flooding might be a concern. The numerous small valleys and drainage areas throughout the region, while picturesque, would present challenges for large solar arrays due to potential shading issues and irregular terrain that would complicate installation and maintenance access.

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.