Edwardsville, Illinois, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a moderately favorable environment for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. The city's geographical position at latitude 38.812 and longitude -89.9627 provides varying levels of solar potential across different seasons.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Solar energy production in Edwardsville fluctuates significantly between seasons. Summer stands out as the most productive period, with an average daily output of 6.59 kWh per kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely, generating 5.42 kWh/day. Autumn sees a noticeable decrease to 4.01 kWh/day, while winter experiences the lowest output at 2.44 kWh/day.

The substantial difference between summer and winter production highlights the impact of seasonal variations on solar energy generation in this region. Long summer days with high sun angles contribute to peak performance, while shorter winter days with lower sun angles result in reduced output.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed panel installations in Edwardsville, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round solar production is 34 degrees facing south. This angle optimizes the panels' exposure to sunlight throughout the year, balancing the varying sun positions across seasons.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

While Edwardsville's climate is generally conducive to solar energy production, there are some factors that could potentially impact system performance:

1. Snow accumulation in winter months may temporarily reduce panel efficiency.
2. Occasional severe weather events, such as thunderstorms or tornadoes, could pose risks to solar installations.

To mitigate these issues, consider installing panels at a steeper angle to promote snow sliding off and using robust mounting systems designed to withstand high winds. Regular maintenance and prompt snow removal can also help ensure consistent energy production throughout the year.

Despite these challenges, Edwardsville's location offers a good balance for year-round solar energy generation, with particularly strong potential during the spring and summer months.

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 Edwardsville

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 38.812, Longitude: -89.9627 (Edwardsville, 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 34° South in Edwardsville, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Edwardsville, United States (Lat/Long 38.812, -89.9627) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 34° 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 Edwardsville, 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 Edwardsville, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 34° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
23° South in Summer	43° South in Autumn	53° South in Winter	32° 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 Edwardsville, 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 Edwardsville, 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 Edwardsville, United States

The topography around Edwardsville, Illinois, in the United States, is characterized by gently rolling hills and flat plains typical of the Midwest region. Located in Madison County, Edwardsville sits on the eastern edge of the Mississippi River floodplain, where the landscape transitions from the flat river valley to slightly more elevated and undulating terrain. The area surrounding Edwardsville features a mix of agricultural land, wooded areas, and suburban developments. To the west, the land gradually slopes down towards the Mississippi River, while to the east, the terrain becomes more varied with low hills and shallow valleys. The elevation in and around Edwardsville ranges from approximately 400 to 600 feet above sea level, with subtle changes in elevation throughout the region.

Potential for Large-Scale Solar PV

When considering areas nearby that would be most suited to large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, several factors come into play. The relatively flat terrain in much of the surrounding area provides ideal conditions for solar farms, as it minimizes the need for extensive land grading and allows for efficient panel placement. Agricultural lands to the east and southeast of Edwardsville could be particularly well-suited for solar PV development. These areas often feature large, open fields with minimal shading from trees or structures, maximizing exposure to sunlight throughout the day. The gently rolling topography in these regions can also be advantageous, as slight slopes facing south or southwest can enhance solar panel efficiency. Another potential area for large-scale solar PV installations could be found in the more level portions of the Mississippi River floodplain to the west of Edwardsville. While some of this land may be prone to flooding, elevated sections that are less suitable for agriculture could be repurposed for solar energy production. It's important to note that while the topography around Edwardsville is generally favorable for solar PV development, other factors such as proximity to electrical infrastructure, local zoning regulations, and environmental considerations would also need to be taken into account when selecting specific sites for large-scale solar projects.

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.