Jackson, Missouri, located in the Northern Temperate Zone at coordinates 37.3866, -89.653, presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations that potential solar installers should carefully consider.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at Jackson varies considerably throughout the year. Summer provides the strongest performance at 6.65 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the ideal season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.49 kWh per day per kW, offering excellent solar production potential. Autumn sees a notable decline to 4.13 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.42 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. This winter figure represents less than 40% of summer production, indicating substantial seasonal variation that affects year-round energy planning.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed panel installations at this Jackson, Missouri location, the ideal angle to tilt panels to maximize total year-round production is 32 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize solar output by accounting for daily solar elevation angles, weighting them by daily photovoltaic potential using solar irradiance data, and factoring in Earth's elliptical orbit patterns.

Local Environmental Factors

Several environmental and weather factors in the Jackson, Missouri region can significantly impact solar production:

• Ice storms and freezing precipitation during winter months can coat panels and drastically reduce output
• Severe thunderstorms with hail pose risks to panel integrity and can cause physical damage
• High humidity levels throughout much of the year can contribute to reduced atmospheric clarity
• Tornado activity in the region presents extreme weather risks to solar installations

Preventative Measures for Enhanced Production

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several preventative measures should be implemented: Installing panels with reinforced mounting systems designed to withstand high winds and severe weather events is essential. Using tempered glass panels rated for hail impact can protect against storm damage. Regular cleaning schedules become particularly important due to humidity and atmospheric conditions that can reduce panel efficiency. Implementing monitoring systems allows for quick identification of weather-related performance issues. Installing panels at the optimal 32-degree south-facing angle while ensuring adequate spacing for maintenance access helps maintain peak performance throughout varying seasonal conditions. Consider investing in tracking systems or adjustable mounts if budget allows, as these can help compensate for the significant seasonal variation in solar output experienced at this latitude.

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 Jackson, Missouri

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 37.3866, Longitude: -89.653 (Jackson, 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 32° South in Jackson, Missouri, United States

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Jackson, Missouri, United States (Lat/Long 37.3866, -89.653) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 32° 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 Jackson, 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 Jackson, Missouri, United States. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 32° 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 Jackson, 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 Jackson, Missouri, 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 Jackson, Missouri, United States

Topography Around Jackson

Jackson sits in the heart of southern Illinois, positioned within the gently rolling terrain characteristic of the Mississippi River valley region. The landscape around this area features predominantly flat to gently undulating topography, with elevation changes that are generally modest and gradual. The region lies within what geographers call the Till Plains, where ancient glacial activity has created a relatively smooth terrain punctuated by occasional low hills and shallow valleys.

The immediate vicinity of Jackson is marked by agricultural land that stretches across broad, open expanses. These fields and farmlands benefit from the area's naturally level ground, which was carved and shaped by retreating ice sheets thousands of years ago. The terrain slopes very gently toward the Mississippi River to the west, creating a subtle but consistent drainage pattern across the landscape.

Small creeks and streams meander through the area, creating minor valleys and low-lying areas that add gentle variation to an otherwise uniform topography. These waterways have carved shallow channels through the soft sedimentary soils, but they rarely create steep banks or dramatic elevation changes. The overall character of the land remains remarkably consistent across large areas, with vast stretches of relatively level ground interrupted only by these minor drainage features.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The extensive flat agricultural areas surrounding Jackson present excellent opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The broad, open fields that currently support row crops like corn and soybeans offer ideal conditions for solar development, with minimal grading or site preparation required due to the naturally level terrain. These agricultural areas provide the large contiguous spaces necessary for utility-scale solar farms while avoiding the complications that steep slopes or uneven ground would create.

Areas to the north and east of Jackson appear particularly well-suited for solar development, where the landscape opens up into especially broad agricultural plains. These zones benefit from minimal topographical obstacles and feature the kind of consistent, gentle terrain that allows for efficient panel placement and maintenance access. The absence of significant hills or valleys in these areas means that shading concerns between panel rows would be minimal, allowing for optimal spacing and energy capture.

The western approaches toward the Mississippi River valley also hold promise for solar development, though developers would need to be mindful of the more frequent stream crossings and slightly more varied elevation changes in this direction. However, much of this area still maintains the favorable flat characteristics that make solar installation straightforward and cost-effective.

Areas with existing agricultural infrastructure often prove advantageous for solar development, as they typically already have established road access and electrical grid connections nearby. The farming communities around Jackson have developed these support systems over decades, creating a foundation that solar developers can often utilize or adapt for their projects. The relatively sparse population density in these agricultural zones also means fewer potential conflicts with residential development or other competing land uses.

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.