Solar PV Analysis of Springfield, Missouri, United States
The location at Springfield, Missouri is quite suitable for generating energy through solar PV panels all year round, but the amount of electricity you can expect to produce varies by season. During the summer months, you can expect to generate about 6.86kWh of electricity per day for each kW of installed solar capacity. In autumn, this drops slightly to around 4.27kWh/day per kW; in winter it's even less at approximately 2.68kWh/day per kW; and in spring it rises again to about 5.18kWh/day per kW.
So overall, the best times of year for producing solar energy at this location are during the summer and spring months when there's plenty of sunlight available.
To maximize your total yearly production from a fixed panel installation here in Springfield, Missouri, ideally you should tilt your panels towards south with an angle roughly around 33 degrees.
As far as environmental or weather factors that could potentially interfere with your solar production here - one significant factor could be snowfall during winter which might cover up your panels and reduce their output significantly until cleared off. Also frequent heavy cloud cover or foggy conditions may reduce sunlight availability thus affecting power generation efficiency.
In order to mitigate these issues and ensure greater energy production from your solar installation - if possible install them on a roof that has good sun exposure throughout most part of the day without being obstructed by trees or buildings nearby; also consider installing some kind of automated system or plan regular maintenance checks to clear off any snowfall promptly from panels especially during wintertime; finally using high-quality durable materials will help withstand local weather conditions better ensuring longer lifespan and efficient performance over time.
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 Springfield, Missouri
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 37.1661, Longitude: -93.2458 (Springfield, Missouri, 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 Springfield, Missouri, United States
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Springfield, Missouri, United States (Lat/Long 37.1661, -93.2458) 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 Springfield, Missouri, 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 Springfield, Missouri, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21° South in Summer | 42° South in Autumn | 52° South in Winter | 30° 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 Springfield, Missouri, 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 Springfield, Missouri, 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 Springfield, Missouri, United States
The Springfield, United States (Lat, Long: 37.1661,-93.2458) is located in the state of Missouri and is characterized by a mix of flat plains and rolling hills with some forested areas. The region experiences a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and cold winters.
When considering large-scale solar PV installations, factors such as amount of sunlight received annually, land availability and suitability, proximity to transmission lines, environmental impact among others are taken into account.
Given these considerations:
1. Flat Plains: Large flat plains around Springfield would be ideal for large scale solar PV installation due to ease of construction and maintenance.
2. Farmland: Unused or less productive farmland can also be repurposed for solar installation without significant environmental impact.
3. Near Transmission Lines: Areas near existing power transmission lines would be beneficial as it reduces the cost associated with infrastructure development for power evacuation from the solar farm to the grid.
4. Industrial Zones: If there are any industrial zones nearby that aren't being fully utilized or brownfield sites (previously developed lands that are not currently in use), they can also be considered since infrastructure like roads and electricity connections may already exist thereby reducing setup costs.
However specific site surveys will need to be conducted before deciding on exact locations for installing large-scale Solar PV systems due to various technical factors involved in such projects.
Please note that while Missouri does receive adequate sunlight making it viable for solar energy generation, it's not at par with southwestern states like Arizona or California which receive much more annual sunshine.
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: Tuesday 18th 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.
