Burlington, Wisconsin, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variation that is typical for its latitude and climate.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows a clear seasonal pattern. Summer provides the strongest performance at 6.28 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it the ideal time for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.27 kWh per day per kW, offering excellent production potential. Autumn sees a notable decline to 3.29 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.25 kWh per day per kW. This winter reduction to roughly one-third of summer output is expected for this northern latitude but still represents meaningful energy production.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For maximum year-round energy production at Burlington, Wisconsin, 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 varying position throughout the year and weighting for solar irradiance potential.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in Burlington, Wisconsin can significantly impact solar energy generation:

• Snow accumulation: Winter snowfall can cover panels and block sunlight completely
• Ice formation: Freezing conditions can create ice buildup on panel surfaces
• Great Lakes weather patterns: Proximity to the Great Lakes region can increase cloud cover and humidity
• Seasonal storms: Thunderstorms and severe weather events can temporarily reduce production

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective:

• Steeper panel angles: Installing panels at angles steeper than the optimal 37 degrees can help snow slide off more easily
• Quality mounting systems: Robust mounting that can handle snow loads and wind stress from storms
• Panel heating systems: Some installations benefit from heating elements to melt ice and snow
• Regular maintenance access: Designing installations for safe snow removal and cleaning access
• Strategic placement: Avoiding areas prone to shade from snow-laden trees or buildings

Despite these seasonal challenges, Burlington, Wisconsin remains a viable location for solar energy generation, particularly when proper installation techniques account for local weather patterns. The strong summer and spring production can offset the reduced winter output, making year-round solar a practical renewable energy option.

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 Burlington, Wisconsin

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 42.6711, Longitude: -88.2651 (Burlington, Wisconsin, 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 Burlington, Wisconsin, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Burlington, Wisconsin, United States (Lat/Long 42.6711, -88.2651) 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 Burlington, Wisconsin, 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 Burlington, Wisconsin, 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
26° South in Summer	46° South in Autumn	56° South in Winter	35° 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 Burlington, Wisconsin, 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 Burlington, Wisconsin, 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 Burlington, Wisconsin, United States

Topographical Features of the Burlington Area

Burlington, located in southeastern Wisconsin near the Illinois border, sits within a relatively gentle and rolling landscape characteristic of the upper Midwest. The terrain around Burlington consists primarily of glacially-formed hills and valleys, with elevations ranging from approximately 750 to 950 feet above sea level. This moderate topography was shaped by ancient glacial activity, which left behind a series of low ridges, shallow valleys, and scattered wetlands throughout the region.

The area features a mix of agricultural land, residential developments, and scattered woodlots. Much of the surrounding countryside consists of farmland with gentle slopes, interspersed with small lakes, ponds, and seasonal wetlands. The Fox River flows through the broader region, creating some minor variations in elevation along its corridor. Overall, the topography is quite manageable for development purposes, with most slopes being gradual rather than steep.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The gently rolling terrain around Burlington presents several favorable characteristics for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The most suitable locations would be the open agricultural fields and pastureland that dominate the landscape, particularly those with southern-facing slopes or relatively flat areas. These locations offer the advantage of minimal shading from natural features and provide ample space for extensive solar arrays.

Areas to the south and southwest of Burlington appear particularly well-suited for solar development, where the terrain is relatively flat to gently sloping and consists primarily of cultivated farmland. The moderate elevation changes in this region can actually be beneficial, as slight southern-facing slopes can optimize solar panel positioning for maximum energy capture throughout the day and across seasons.

The agricultural nature of much of the surrounding land means there are fewer obstacles such as dense tree coverage or existing structures that might create shading issues. Additionally, the open character of the landscape provides good access for construction and maintenance vehicles, which is essential for large-scale solar installations.

Areas near existing electrical infrastructure would be particularly advantageous, as they would reduce the costs and complexity of connecting solar installations to the power grid. The relatively stable geology of the region, formed by glacial deposits, provides suitable foundation conditions for solar mounting systems without requiring extensive ground preparation or specialized engineering solutions.

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.