Burbank, Illinois, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations that potential solar installers should carefully consider.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows dramatic seasonal swings. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 6.25 kWh per day per kilowatt of installed solar capacity, making it the peak season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.26 kWh per day per kW, offering nearly as good performance as summer. Autumn sees a notable drop to 3.32 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.01 kWh per day per kW. This winter figure represents less than one-third of summer's output, highlighting the significant seasonal challenge for year-round solar reliability. The ideal months for solar generation at this Burbank location are clearly the warmer seasons, with summer and spring providing approximately 75% of the year's best solar potential. The shoulder seasons of autumn and winter require careful energy planning and potentially battery storage systems to maintain consistent power availability.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For maximum year-round energy production, fixed solar panels at this location should be tilted at 36 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 the varying solar irradiance potential across all seasons.

Local Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several significant local factors can impede solar production in Burbank, Illinois, and require specific preventative measures:

• Snow accumulation: Winter weather can cause snow to cover panels, completely blocking solar generation for days or weeks
• Ice formation: Freezing conditions can create ice buildup that reduces panel efficiency and poses safety hazards
• Frequent cloud cover: The region experiences considerable cloudy weather, particularly during autumn and winter months
• Severe weather events: Thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds can damage panels or reduce their effectiveness

Preventative Installation Measures

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

• Steep panel angles: The recommended 36-degree tilt helps snow slide off more easily than flatter installations
• Quality mounting systems: Robust mounting hardware designed for high wind loads and thermal expansion prevents weather damage
• Panel spacing: Adequate spacing between panel rows prevents snow buildup and allows for maintenance access
• Microinverters or power optimizers: These systems minimize the impact when individual panels are partially shaded or snow-covered
• Regular maintenance planning: Scheduled cleaning and snow removal protocols help maintain optimal performance year-round

The location's solar potential remains viable for residential and commercial installations, but the significant winter reduction in output makes careful system sizing and potentially battery storage important considerations for energy independence goals.

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 Burbank, Illinois

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 41.7402, Longitude: -87.7723 (Burbank, 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 36° South in Burbank, Illinois, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Burbank, Illinois, United States (Lat/Long 41.7402, -87.7723) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 36° 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 Burbank, 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 Burbank, Illinois, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 36° 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	45° South in Autumn	56° South in Winter	34° 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 Burbank, 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 Burbank, 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 Burbank, Illinois, United States

Topographical Features of the Burbank Area

The Burbank area in Illinois sits within the greater Chicago metropolitan region, characterized by remarkably flat terrain that extends across much of the surrounding landscape. This location lies within the glaciated plains of northeastern Illinois, where ancient ice sheets carved out a predominantly level topography with only gentle undulations across the countryside. The elevation changes throughout the region are minimal, creating an expansive flatland that stretches in all directions from this suburban community. The immediate vicinity around Burbank consists of developed suburban neighborhoods, commercial districts, and transportation corridors typical of Chicago's southwest suburbs. The terrain slopes very gradually toward the northeast, following the natural drainage patterns that eventually lead toward Lake Michigan. Small creeks and drainage channels meander through the area, but these waterways have carved only shallow valleys that barely interrupt the otherwise uniform flatness of the landscape.

Geological Foundation and Land Use Patterns

The underlying geology consists of glacial deposits laid down over thousands of years, creating deep, fertile soils that originally supported prairie grasslands before European settlement. These same geological conditions that made the area attractive for agriculture and later urban development also contribute to the stable, level ground conditions found throughout the region. The bedrock lies well below the surface, buried beneath layers of glacial till and sediment. Current land use in the immediate Burbank area reflects typical suburban development patterns, with residential neighborhoods, shopping centers, schools, and industrial facilities occupying much of the available space. However, the broader regional context includes significant areas of less intensive development, particularly as one moves further from the urban core of Chicago.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The flat topography surrounding Burbank presents excellent opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations, particularly in areas that remain undeveloped or are currently used for agriculture. The most promising locations for substantial solar projects lie to the south and southwest of Burbank, where the suburban development becomes less dense and larger tracts of open land become available. Agricultural areas in Will County and the southern portions of Cook County offer particularly attractive sites for solar development. These locations benefit from the same flat terrain that characterizes the Burbank area while providing the extensive open spaces necessary for utility-scale solar installations. The minimal elevation changes mean that solar arrays can be installed with consistent orientation and spacing, maximizing efficiency while minimizing the need for extensive site preparation or grading work. Industrial and commercial zones on the outskirts of the metropolitan area also present opportunities for large solar installations, either as primary land use or integrated with existing facilities. Former agricultural land that has been designated for development but not yet built upon represents another category of potentially suitable sites, offering the dual benefits of flat terrain and proximity to existing electrical infrastructure. The transportation network radiating outward from the Chicago metropolitan area provides good access to potential solar sites, while the relatively stable geology reduces concerns about foundation requirements for solar mounting systems. Areas with existing electrical transmission infrastructure nearby would be particularly well-suited for large-scale solar development, as they would minimize the costs and complexity associated with connecting solar installations to the electrical grid.

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.