Macon, Illinois presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations typical of the Northern Temperate Zone climate.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location varies considerably throughout the year. Summer provides the strongest performance at 6.45 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the ideal season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.36 kWh per day per kW, offering excellent energy production as daylight hours increase and weather conditions improve. Autumn sees a notable decline to 3.67 kWh per day per kW as the sun angle decreases and weather patterns change. Winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.20 kWh per day per kW, representing about one-third of summer production levels. For optimal year-round energy capture at this location, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 34 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual production by balancing the sun's varying seasonal positions throughout the year.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in Macon, Illinois can significantly impact solar energy generation:

• Snow accumulation: Winter snow can completely block solar panels, eliminating energy production until cleared
• Ice formation: Freezing rain and ice storms can create persistent coverings that reduce or eliminate solar output
• Severe weather events: Thunderstorms, hail, and high winds can damage panels or temporarily reduce production
• Agricultural dust and pollen: Rural location means seasonal pollen and farming activities can coat panels with debris
• Humidity and condensation: High humidity levels can create condensation that reduces panel efficiency

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

Several installation strategies can help maximize solar energy production despite these challenges. Installing panels at the recommended 34-degree tilt naturally helps snow and ice slide off more easily, reducing the duration of weather-related blockages. Regular maintenance schedules should include panel cleaning, particularly during high pollen seasons and after dust storms from agricultural activities. Installing panels with adequate spacing allows for proper airflow, reducing condensation issues and helping with natural cleaning from wind and rain. Consider mounting systems that allow for safe manual snow removal when necessary, though the tilted angle will handle most snow clearing naturally. Quality panels with strong warranties can withstand typical Midwest weather events, including moderate hail. Overall, while Macon, Illinois faces seasonal challenges common to the Midwest, proper installation techniques and regular maintenance can ensure reliable solar energy production throughout most of the year, with summer and spring providing particularly strong performance.

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 Macon, Illinois

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.7128, Longitude: -88.997 (Macon, Illinois, 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 34° South in Macon, Illinois, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Macon, Illinois, United States (Lat/Long 39.7128, -88.997) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 34° 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 Macon, Illinois, 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 Macon, Illinois, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 34° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
24° South in Summer	43° South in Autumn	54° South in Winter	33° 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 Macon, Illinois, 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 Macon, Illinois, 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 Macon, Illinois, United States

Topographical Features Around Macon, Illinois

The landscape surrounding Macon, Illinois is characterized by the gentle, rolling terrain typical of central Illinois. This region sits within the Grand Prairie natural division, where the topography consists primarily of relatively flat to gently undulating agricultural land that was shaped by glacial activity thousands of years ago. The area features subtle elevation changes with gradual slopes and broad, shallow valleys carved by small streams and drainage ways. The terrain around Macon exhibits the classic characteristics of glaciated prairie, with rich, deep soils overlying relatively level bedrock. Small creeks and tributaries create minor topographical variations, forming shallow valleys that provide gentle drainage patterns across the landscape. The elevation changes are generally modest, creating a landscape that appears nearly flat to the casual observer but actually contains subtle undulations that influence water flow and land use patterns. Agricultural fields dominate the visual landscape, with the natural prairie having been converted to row crop production decades ago. These expansive fields are interspersed with occasional woodlots, farmsteads, and small rural communities. The road network follows section lines established by the original government survey, creating a grid pattern that reflects the underlying flat topography.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The topographical characteristics around Macon present excellent opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The predominantly flat to gently rolling terrain eliminates many of the challenges associated with steep slopes, such as complex grading requirements, erosion concerns, and difficult equipment access. The subtle elevation changes that do exist can actually be beneficial for solar installations, as gentle south-facing slopes can optimize panel orientation and improve drainage. The expansive agricultural fields provide large, unobstructed areas that would be ideal for utility-scale solar farms. These open spaces offer minimal shading concerns from trees or buildings, and the existing agricultural infrastructure often includes access roads that could support construction and maintenance activities. The relatively uniform topography means that solar arrays could be installed with consistent orientations across large areas, maximizing efficiency and simplifying design and construction processes. Areas with the most potential for solar development would be the larger agricultural fields situated on the higher, well-drained portions of the landscape. These locations would minimize potential flooding issues while providing stable foundations for solar mounting systems. The gentle ridges and plateau areas that rise slightly above the surrounding terrain would be particularly suitable, as they offer good drainage while maintaining the flat to gently sloping characteristics that are ideal for solar panel installation. The scattered woodlots and riparian corridors along streams should be avoided for solar development, both for environmental reasons and because trees would create shading issues. However, the abundance of open agricultural land means there are numerous suitable sites that would not conflict with these natural features. The regular field patterns and existing property boundaries would also facilitate the development of solar installations that align with existing land ownership and usage patterns.

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.