Solar PV Analysis of East Lansing, United States
East Lansing, Michigan is a decent place to generate electricity using solar panels throughout the year. However, it's not necessarily ideal because the amount of energy you can get from the sun changes quite a bit with each season.
During summer, you can expect to generate about 6.40 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for each kilowatt (kW) of solar panels you have installed. This is when your solar panels will be most productive because there's more sunlight and longer days.
In autumn, this drops to around 3.15 kWh/day per kW due to shorter daylight hours and less intense sunlight as the earth tilts away from the sun.
Winter sees further decrease in production down to roughly 1.99 kWh/day per kW because of even shorter daylight hours and weaker sunlight intensity.
Spring picks up again with an average production rate at about 5.42 kWh/day per kW as days start getting longer and we move closer towards summer again.
To maximize how much energy your solar panels produce over the whole year, they should be tilted at an angle of 37 degrees facing south if they are fixed in place without ability to adjust their tilt angle throughout different seasons.
There might be some local factors that could affect how well your solar panels work though:
1) Snow: In winter months heavy snowfall could pile up on top of your solar panel reducing its effectiveness or even make them stop producing power altogether until cleared off.
Prevention: You can install automated snow removal systems or manually clear off accumulated snow whenever needed ensuring that your panels remain clear and exposed to sunlight as much as possible during winter months
2) Cloudy Weather: East Lansing has many cloudy days which reduces amount of direct sunlight hitting your panel thereby reducing its efficiency.
Prevention: Unfortunately there isn't much one can do against cloudy weather but having more efficient premium tier-1 type photovoltaic cells would help in getting more power out of the available light.
3) Shading: Buildings, trees or other structures might cast shadow on your panels reducing their output.
Prevention: Careful site survey and placement of solar panels can help minimize shading issues. If there are trees causing shade, trimming branches might be a solution.
Overall, while East Lansing isn't the most ideal place for solar energy due to its seasonal variations and relatively high number of cloudy days, it's still pretty good especially during summer months. With proper installation and maintenance measures you can ensure that your solar system performs optimally throughout the year.
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 East Lansing
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 42.7367, Longitude: -84.4758 (East Lansing, 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 East Lansing, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in East Lansing, United States (Lat/Long 42.7367, -84.4758) 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 East Lansing, 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 East Lansing, 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 | 46° 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 East Lansing, 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 East Lansing, 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 East Lansing, United States
East Lansing, located in the state of Michigan, United States, is characterized by a relatively flat topography. It is part of the Great Lakes region which is largely dominated by flat plains with occasional gentle hills. The land around East Lansing primarily consists of urban areas and farmland.
For large-scale solar PV installations, open and flat areas are most suitable as they allow for easy installation and maximum exposure to sunlight. Given this criteria, the farmlands surrounding East Lansing could potentially be well-suited for such projects. However, it's important to note that Michigan generally has a cooler climate with significant cloud cover throughout much of the year which may affect solar energy production.
Moreover, any decision to install large-scale solar PV would also need to consider factors beyond just physical geography such as local zoning laws and regulations, availability of infrastructure for power transmission/distribution, potential environmental impacts etc. Therefore while there might be potential sites around East Lansing based on topography alone; feasibility studies would need to be conducted before finalizing any location(s).
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!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Friday 28th 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.
