Solar PV Analysis of Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin, United States
Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin is a decent place for solar energy generation year-round. However, the amount of electricity that can be produced varies greatly with the seasons due to changes in sunlight exposure.
In summer, you can expect to generate around 6.57 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. This is the best time of year for solar energy production at this location because it has the most daylight hours and typically clear skies.
During autumn, output drops significantly to about 3.03 kWh/day per kW installed due to shorter days and less intense sunlight. Winter sees an even greater drop in output down to approximately 1.72 kWh/day per kW installed because of shorter days and often cloudy or snowy weather which blocks sunlight from reaching the panels.
Spring sees a rise again in potential output up to about 5.06 kWh/day per kW installed as daylight hours increase and weather conditions improve.
To maximize your overall yearly solar output at this location, you should tilt your panels at an angle of about 39 degrees towards south direction which will ensure they catch as much sunlight as possible throughout different times of year.
However, there are some local factors that could impede solar production at this location such as frequent snowfall during winter months which could cover your panels blocking out sunlight completely until cleared off.
To mitigate these issues:
1) Consider installing adjustable mounts so you can change panel angles depending on season.
2) Regularly clean off any snow or debris from panels.
3) Install a monitoring system that alerts when power production drops significantly so any problems can be quickly addressed.
4) Positioning panels where they are less likely affected by shadows from nearby trees or buildings would also help maintain optimal performance all year round.
Overall, while Land O' Lakes isn't perfect for generating solar energy compared with sunnier locations closer to equator, it is still feasible and can provide a significant amount of electricity especially during summer and spring.
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 Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 46.1563, Longitude: -89.3218 (Land O' Lakes, 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 39° South in Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin, United States (Lat/Long 46.1563, -89.3218) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 39° 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 Land O' Lakes, 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 Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 39° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30° South in Summer | 49° South in Autumn | 60° South in Winter | 39° 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 Land O' Lakes, 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 Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin, United States.
Our calculation method
- Solar Position:
We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination. - Shadow Projection:
We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle. - 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 Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin, United States
Land O' Lakes is located in the state of Wisconsin, United States. The topography around this region is characterized by a mix of flat and hilly terrains. It's part of the Northern Highland, featuring numerous lakes, streams and wetlands. The area is heavily forested with both coniferous and deciduous trees.
For large-scale solar PV installations, areas that are relatively flat would be most suitable as they provide easy installation and maintenance access while minimizing shadowing effects from surrounding terrain or vegetation. Additionally, these sites need to have good sun exposure throughout the year for efficient energy production.
Given these factors, open areas without dense tree coverage or tall structures nearby would be ideal for solar PV installations. It might also be possible to consider locations near water bodies as they often have less tree cover and can provide additional benefits such as cooling effects for the panels.
However, it should be noted that the feasibility of large-scale solar projects in this region may also depend on other factors including local climate conditions (e.g., average sunlight hours), land availability & cost, environmental impacts & regulations (e.g., preserving natural habitats), grid connectivity & infrastructure capacity etc. Therefore detailed site-specific assessments will still be needed before any project implementation.
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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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Wednesday 5th of June 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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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.
