Onalaska, Wisconsin shows moderate potential for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variation typical of northern temperate locations. The area experiences its peak solar production during summer months and considerably reduced output during winter.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location varies dramatically throughout the year. Summer provides the strongest performance at 6.52 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it an excellent time for solar generation. Spring also offers good production levels at 5.04 kWh per day per kW, representing the second-best season for solar energy harvesting. Autumn sees a notable decline in solar output, dropping to 3.36 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. Winter presents the most challenging conditions for solar generation, with output falling to just 2.29 kWh per day per kW - roughly one-third of summer production levels. For optimal year-round energy capture, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 38 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual solar production by accounting for the sun's varying position throughout the seasons and the Earth's elliptical orbit around the sun.

Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several local factors in the Onalaska area can significantly impact solar panel performance and require careful consideration during installation:

• Snow accumulation: Wisconsin's heavy winter snowfall can completely block solar panels, eliminating energy production until snow melts or is removed
• Ice formation: Freezing rain and ice storms can coat panels, reducing light transmission and potentially causing damage
• High humidity and fog: The proximity to the Mississippi River can create moisture-related visibility issues that reduce solar irradiance
• Severe weather: The region experiences thunderstorms, high winds, and occasional tornadoes that can damage solar installations

Preventative Installation Measures

Several strategies can help maximize solar energy production despite these environmental challenges. Installing panels at the recommended 38-degree tilt angle naturally helps snow slide off more easily, reducing accumulation problems. Choosing panels with smooth, non-textured surfaces and anti-reflective coatings can minimize snow and ice adhesion. Proper structural engineering becomes crucial given the area's weather patterns. Solar mounting systems should be designed to handle significant snow loads and high wind speeds common to the region. Installing microinverters or power optimizers rather than string inverters can help maintain energy production even when some panels are partially covered by snow or debris. Regular maintenance scheduling proves essential, particularly during winter months when manual snow removal may be necessary after heavy snowfall. Ensuring adequate spacing between panel rows prevents shading issues and allows for better air circulation, which helps with natural snow melting and reduces moisture-related problems. The location's solar potential remains viable for residential and commercial applications, but success depends heavily on proper system design that accounts for Wisconsin's challenging winter conditions and seasonal variation in solar output.

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 Onalaska

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.8957, Longitude: -91.245 (Onalaska, 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 Onalaska, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Onalaska, United States (Lat/Long 43.8957, -91.245) 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 Onalaska, 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 Onalaska, 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	48° South in Autumn	57° 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 Onalaska, 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 Onalaska, 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 Onalaska, United States

Topography and Terrain Features

Onalaska sits in the scenic Driftless Area of western Wisconsin, positioned along the Mississippi River where it meets the Black River. This region is characterized by its unique landscape that escaped glaciation during the last ice age, resulting in a distinctive topography of rolling hills, deep valleys, and steep bluffs. The city itself is nestled in a river valley, with elevations ranging from approximately 640 feet above sea level near the riverfront to over 1,200 feet on the surrounding ridgetops.

The immediate area around Onalaska features a mix of river bottomland, wooded hillsides, and agricultural fields on the gentler slopes and plateau areas. The Mississippi River creates a broad floodplain to the west, while the terrain rises dramatically eastward into the characteristic bluffs and ridges of the Driftless region. These bluffs often have steep faces with gradients exceeding 30 degrees, creating dramatic elevation changes over short distances.

The landscape is heavily forested in many areas, particularly on the steeper slopes where oak, maple, and other hardwood species dominate. Agricultural land use is common on the flatter areas and gentler slopes, with corn and soybean fields prevalent throughout the surrounding countryside. The region's topography creates numerous microclimates and varying exposure conditions depending on slope orientation and elevation.

Solar Development Suitability

For large-scale solar photovoltaic installations, the most suitable areas near Onalaska would be the relatively flat to gently rolling agricultural lands found on the plateau areas east and southeast of the city. These locations offer several advantages including minimal grading requirements, good accessibility for construction and maintenance, and typically clear southern exposure without significant shading from surrounding terrain features.

The agricultural fields on the broader ridgetops and gentle slopes would be particularly well-suited for solar development. These areas generally have slopes of less than 10 degrees, which is ideal for solar panel installation while still providing adequate drainage. The existing agricultural use also suggests that the land has already been cleared and is relatively accessible by road infrastructure.

Areas to avoid for large-scale solar development would include the steep bluff faces, heavily forested slopes, and the flood-prone bottomlands near the rivers. The river valleys, while flat, present challenges due to potential flooding, wetland restrictions, and frequent fog or mist that can reduce panel efficiency. Similarly, the steep wooded hillsides would require extensive clearing and grading, making development economically challenging while also raising environmental concerns.

The plateau areas extending eastward from Onalaska toward the communities of West Salem and Bangor offer some of the most promising terrain for solar installations. These locations combine relatively flat topography, existing agricultural land use, good road access, and proximity to electrical transmission infrastructure. The elevated position of these plateau areas also helps ensure good air circulation around solar panels, which can improve their operational efficiency.

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.