Brandon, South Dakota experiences significant seasonal variation in solar energy production, making it a moderately suitable location for solar PV installations in the Northern Temperate Zone.

Seasonal Solar Production Patterns

The solar energy output at this location shows dramatic differences throughout the year. Summer provides the highest production at 7.02 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it an excellent time for solar generation. Spring offers good production levels at 5.40 kWh per day per kW, providing solid energy yields during this season. Autumn sees a notable decline to 3.55 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.47 kWh per day per kW of production. This winter figure represents roughly one-third of the summer output, highlighting the substantial seasonal variation typical of northern temperate locations.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For maximum year-round energy production at Brandon, South Dakota, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 38 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize total annual solar output by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year and weighting for daily solar potential.

Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several local factors can significantly impact solar production in Brandon, South Dakota:

• Heavy snow accumulation during winter months can completely block solar panels
• Ice formation can reduce panel efficiency and create safety hazards
• Severe thunderstorms and hail common to the Great Plains region
• High winds that can stress mounting systems
• Temperature extremes that can affect panel efficiency

Preventative Measures for Better Performance

Several installation strategies can help mitigate these challenges and improve energy production: Installing panels at the recommended 38-degree tilt helps snow slide off more easily compared to flatter installations. Consider increasing the tilt angle slightly in areas with heavy snowfall, though this may reduce overall annual production. Choose solar panels and mounting systems rated for severe weather conditions, including high wind loads and hail impact resistance. Tempered glass panels with strong aluminum frames perform better in harsh conditions. Ensure adequate spacing between panel rows to allow for snow removal equipment access and to prevent shading from snow buildup. Professional installation should include secure mounting systems engineered for local wind loads. Regular maintenance becomes crucial in this climate, including post-storm inspections and snow removal when safe to do so. Installing a monitoring system helps identify production issues quickly, whether from weather damage or snow coverage. Ground-mounted systems may be preferable to rooftop installations in this region, as they allow easier access for snow removal and maintenance while providing flexibility in orientation and tilt angle optimization.

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 Brandon, South Dakota

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.5856, Longitude: -96.583 (Brandon, South Dakota, 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 Brandon, South Dakota, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Brandon, South Dakota, United States (Lat/Long 43.5856, -96.583) 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 Brandon, South Dakota, 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 Brandon, South Dakota, 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	58° 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 Brandon, South Dakota, 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 Brandon, South Dakota, 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 Brandon, South Dakota, United States

Topographical Features of Brandon and Surrounding Areas

Brandon, South Dakota sits in the heart of the Great Plains region, characterized by gently rolling prairie landscape with minimal elevation changes. The terrain around Brandon consists primarily of glacial till plains that were shaped by ice sheets thousands of years ago, creating a relatively flat to gently undulating topography. The elevation in the immediate area ranges from approximately 1,400 to 1,500 feet above sea level, with subtle rises and depressions across the landscape.

The region features broad, open expanses of agricultural land interspersed with small wetlands and drainage ways. These wetlands, known locally as prairie potholes, are scattered throughout the area and represent the primary topographical variation in an otherwise uniform landscape. The Big Sioux River flows roughly north to south through the broader region, creating a shallow valley system that provides the most significant topographical relief in the area.

The soils are predominantly deep, fertile glacial deposits that have made this region ideal for agriculture. The landscape is characterized by long, gentle slopes with gradients typically less than five percent, making it relatively easy to traverse and develop. Natural vegetation historically consisted of tallgrass and mixed-grass prairie, though most of the area has been converted to agricultural use over the past century and a half.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The flat to gently rolling topography around Brandon presents excellent opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The most suitable areas for solar development would be the broad, open agricultural fields that extend in all directions from the city, particularly those with southern-facing slopes that can maximize solar exposure throughout the day.

Areas immediately west and southwest of Brandon offer some of the best potential, where the terrain consists of large, relatively flat agricultural parcels with minimal obstructions. These locations benefit from the slightly elevated positions on the glacial till plains, which provide good drainage and reduce the risk of standing water that could affect solar panel installations.

The gentle slopes found throughout the region are actually advantageous for solar installations, as they can be oriented to face south and provide natural drainage for stormwater management. Areas with gradients between one and three percent are particularly well-suited, as they offer the benefits of slope without creating engineering challenges for panel mounting systems.

Locations that should be avoided for large-scale solar development include the scattered wetland areas and their immediate surroundings, which may have regulatory protections and seasonal flooding issues. Additionally, areas too close to the Big Sioux River valley might present drainage challenges during periods of high water.

The agricultural nature of much of the surrounding land means that large, contiguous parcels are readily available, which is essential for utility-scale solar development. The existing road infrastructure throughout the rural areas provides good access for construction and maintenance activities, while the relatively stable soils offer solid foundations for solar mounting systems without requiring extensive ground preparation.

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

Tell Us About Your Work

We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.

Feeling generous?

Share this with your friends!

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.