Solar PV Analysis of Willowbrook, United States
The location at Willowbrook, Illinois, United States is fairly decent for generating energy via solar PV year-round. However, the effectiveness varies with the seasons.
In simple terms, solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity. So naturally, they work best in summer when there's a lot of sunlight - in this case producing about 6.27 units of electricity per day for each unit of solar panel installed (kWh/day per kW). In autumn and spring when there's less sunlight but still a reasonable amount, they produce 3.39 and 5.30 units respectively. In winter when there's the least amount of daylight hours and often more cloud cover, they only produce about 2.05 units.
The ideal time to generate solar power at this location would be during summer because that’s when you get maximum output from your panels due to longer daylight hours and higher sun intensity.
If you're installing fixed panels (as opposed to ones that track the sun), it's best to tilt them at an angle of around 36 degrees facing south for maximum exposure to sunlight throughout the year.
As far as local factors that could affect solar production - Willowbrook is located in northern US which means it gets cold winters with potentially heavy snowfall which could cover up your panels and reduce their effectiveness significantly during those periods unless cleared regularly.
Also like any other place trees or tall buildings nearby could cast shadows on your panels reducing their output so it’s important to consider these factors while choosing a location for installation.
To ensure greater energy production some measures can be taken such as regular cleaning especially after snowfall or dust storms; trimming overhanging branches if any; using quality equipment including inverters & batteries; proper installation ensuring no shading on any part of the panel etc.
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 Willowbrook
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 41.7416, Longitude: -87.9375 (Willowbrook, 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 Willowbrook, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Willowbrook, United States (Lat/Long 41.7416, -87.9375) 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 Willowbrook, 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 Willowbrook, 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 | 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 Willowbrook, 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 Willowbrook, 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 Willowbrook, United States
Willowbrook, United States is located in the state of Illinois and is characterized by a relatively flat topography. This region has an average elevation of around 200 meters above sea level. The landscape primarily consists of open plains with some small hills, forests, and bodies of water.
Given this information, large-scale solar PV installations could potentially be well-suited to this area due to its flatness which makes it easier for installation and maintenance. Moreover, the presence of open plains means that there would likely be fewer obstructions to sunlight.
However, it's important to note that the feasibility for large-scale solar PV also depends on other factors such as local climate (amount of sunshine), land use regulations and availability, proximity to transmission lines or substations (for electricity export), local market prices for electricity etc.
Areas nearby Willowbrook which might be suitable include other parts of DuPage County or neighboring counties like Cook County or Will County where similar topographical conditions exist. However, specific site assessments would need to be conducted before any definitive conclusions can be drawn.
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: Monday 26th of February 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.
