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

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy production at this location shows dramatic seasonal swings. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 6.34 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it an excellent time for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.20 kWh per day per kW, offering substantial energy production as daylight hours increase and weather conditions improve. Autumn sees a notable decline to 3.19 kWh per day per kW as the sun angle decreases and weather patterns shift. Winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.16 kWh per day per kW, representing about one-third of summer production levels.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For maximum year-round energy production at Jefferson, Wisconsin, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 37 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 actual solar irradiance conditions at this latitude.

Local Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several significant factors can impede solar production in Jefferson, Wisconsin, and require careful planning during installation:

• Snow accumulation: Wisconsin's harsh winters can cause substantial snow buildup on panels, completely blocking energy production for extended periods
• Ice formation: Freezing rain and ice storms can create persistent coverings that are difficult to remove naturally
• Frequent cloud cover: The region experiences considerable cloudy weather, particularly during autumn and winter months
• Severe weather events: Thunderstorms, hail, and high winds can damage panels or reduce efficiency

Preventative Installation Measures

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

• Steeper tilt angles: While 37 degrees is optimal for maximum annual production, slightly steeper angles can help snow slide off more readily
• Quality mounting systems: Robust mounting hardware designed for high wind and snow loads prevents structural damage
• Panel selection: Choose panels with anti-reflective coatings and smooth surfaces that shed snow and ice more effectively
• Strategic placement: Install panels away from overhanging trees or structures that could drop snow, ice, or debris
• Accessible design: Plan installations that allow safe snow removal when necessary, though panels often clear themselves naturally

The location's moderate solar potential, combined with proper installation techniques to address local weather challenges, can still provide meaningful renewable energy production throughout the year, with peak performance during the warmer months when energy demand for cooling is typically highest.

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 Jefferson, Wisconsin

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.0007, Longitude: -88.8115 (Jefferson, 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 37° South in Jefferson, Wisconsin, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Jefferson, Wisconsin, United States (Lat/Long 43.0007, -88.8115) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 37° 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 Jefferson, 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 Jefferson, Wisconsin, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 37° 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	47° South in Autumn	56° 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 Jefferson, 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 Jefferson, Wisconsin, 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 Jefferson, Wisconsin, United States

Topographical Features Around Jefferson, Wisconsin

Jefferson sits in the gently rolling landscape of southeastern Wisconsin, positioned in Jefferson County at an elevation of approximately 800 feet above sea level. The terrain around this area is characterized by relatively modest elevation changes typical of the glaciated Midwest, with the topography shaped by ancient glacial activity that left behind a landscape of gentle hills, shallow valleys, and numerous small lakes and wetlands.

The immediate vicinity features predominantly agricultural land with gradual slopes that rarely exceed 10-15 degrees. The Rock River flows through the area, creating a shallow valley system that adds some variation to the otherwise gently undulating terrain. To the north and west of Jefferson, the land tends to be slightly more elevated, while areas to the south and east gradually slope toward lower elevations as they approach the Rock River corridor.

The region's glacial heritage is evident in the scattered small hills called drumlins, which are elongated mounds of glacial sediment. These features, along with occasional kettle lakes formed by melted ice blocks, create a varied but generally manageable landscape for development purposes. The soils in the area are typically deep and well-drained, consisting mainly of glacial till and outwash materials.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations around Jefferson would be the expansive agricultural fields that dominate the landscape to the southwest and southeast of the city. These areas offer several advantages including relatively flat to gently sloping terrain, minimal tree coverage, and existing access via rural road networks. The agricultural lands south of Highway 18 and west of Highway 26 present particularly favorable conditions with their open exposure and manageable topography.

Areas with south-facing slopes of 5-10 degrees would be especially beneficial for solar installations, as these gentle inclines can help optimize panel positioning while maintaining good drainage. The farmland extending toward the communities of Sullivan to the southwest and Palmyra to the southeast provides extensive open spaces with minimal shading from trees or structures.

The flatter agricultural areas east of Jefferson, toward Johnson Creek, also present excellent opportunities for solar development. These locations benefit from being relatively free of the small hills and depressions that characterize some other parts of the region. The existing field patterns and property boundaries in these agricultural areas often provide large, contiguous parcels that could accommodate substantial solar installations without significant grading or clearing requirements.

Areas to avoid for large-scale solar development would include the more heavily wooded regions along the Rock River and its tributaries, where trees would create shading issues and clearing would be environmentally problematic. The scattered residential areas and the more rolling terrain with steeper slopes found in some northern sections of the county would also present greater challenges for large-scale solar installations.

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.