East Saint Louis, Illinois presents a moderately favorable location for solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variation typical of its position in the Northern Temperate Zone. The area experiences substantial differences in solar output throughout the year, making it more productive during certain seasons than others.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Summer represents the peak solar generation period at this location, producing 6.50 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity. This high output makes summer the most economically productive time for solar energy systems. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.30 kWh per day per kW, offering strong solar production as daylight hours increase and weather conditions improve. Autumn sees a notable decline in solar output at 3.94 kWh per day per kW as the region transitions toward winter. Winter presents the most challenging period for solar generation, producing only 2.37 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, representing less than half the summer output. For optimal year-round energy production from a fixed panel installation at this location, solar panels should be tilted at 33 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual solar output by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the seasons and the varying solar irradiance levels specific to this latitude.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in the East Saint Louis area can significantly impact solar energy production:

• Industrial air pollution and particulate matter from nearby manufacturing facilities can accumulate on solar panels, reducing their efficiency
• Frequent cloud cover and atmospheric haze common to the Mississippi River valley region
• Snow accumulation during winter months that can completely block solar panels
• High humidity levels that can create condensation and promote dirt buildup on panel surfaces

Preventative Measures for Enhanced Solar Production

Regular maintenance becomes particularly important in this industrial environment. Panel cleaning should be performed more frequently than in rural locations, ideally every 3-4 months, to remove industrial dust and pollutants that can significantly reduce energy output. Installing panels with adequate spacing and proper mounting systems helps facilitate snow shedding during winter months. Steep mounting angles, close to the recommended 33 degrees, naturally assist with snow removal while maintaining optimal solar collection angles. Monitoring systems should be implemented to track energy production and identify when cleaning or maintenance is needed. Sudden drops in output often indicate soiling or obstruction issues that can be quickly addressed to restore full production capacity. The location's industrial setting requires careful consideration of air quality impacts on solar equipment longevity, making higher-quality panels with robust protective coatings a worthwhile investment for long-term performance in this environment.

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 Saint Louis

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 38.5491, Longitude: -90.1601 (East Saint Louis, 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 33° South in East Saint Louis, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in East Saint Louis, United States (Lat/Long 38.5491, -90.1601) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 33° 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 Saint Louis, 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 Saint Louis, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 33° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
22° South in Summer	43° South in Autumn	53° South in Winter	31° 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 Saint Louis, 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 Saint Louis, 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 East Saint Louis, United States

Topographical Features of East Saint Louis and Surroundings

The topography around East Saint Louis, Illinois is characterized by relatively flat terrain typical of the American Midwest's river valley systems. The city sits on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, positioned on the broad floodplain that extends across much of southwestern Illinois. This area forms part of the greater St. Louis metropolitan region, where the landscape has been shaped by centuries of river activity and glacial processes. The elevation in and around East Saint Louis remains fairly consistent, with gentle undulations rather than dramatic changes in height. The Mississippi River floodplain dominates the immediate vicinity, creating expansive areas of level ground that stretch eastward from the riverbank. Moving away from the river, the terrain gradually transitions into the rolling hills characteristic of the Illinois prairie landscape, though these elevation changes remain modest. Agricultural land surrounds much of the urban area, reflecting the region's historically fertile soils and favorable growing conditions. These farmlands occupy much of the countryside extending in all directions from East Saint Louis, creating large open spaces with minimal topographical obstacles. The American Bottom, as this floodplain region is known, provides some of the flattest and most accessible land in the entire metropolitan area.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The agricultural lands extending eastward and southward from East Saint Louis present the most promising opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. These areas combine the essential elements needed for successful solar development: extensive flat terrain, minimal shading from natural features, and relatively low population density that reduces land use conflicts. The farmland corridors running parallel to major transportation routes offer particularly attractive development potential. These locations provide the dual benefits of accessible terrain for construction and maintenance activities, while also offering proximity to existing electrical transmission infrastructure. The flat topography eliminates the need for extensive site preparation or grading work that would be required in more mountainous regions. Areas further removed from the immediate urban core, particularly those extending into rural St. Clair County and neighboring Madison County, provide the largest contiguous parcels of suitable land. These locations maintain the favorable flat topography while offering greater flexibility for large-scale installations that require significant acreage. The agricultural nature of much of this land also means fewer existing structures or obstacles that would complicate solar panel placement. The southern portions of the region, where agricultural use predominates and population density remains low, represent some of the most viable locations for utility-scale solar development. These areas benefit from the same favorable topographical conditions while being positioned away from the more densely developed urban corridors that could create shading issues or land use restrictions.

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.