Solar Energy Production
 
The solar energy production gauge identifies the solar energy being generated at this moment by our solar energy system. Generated energy is directly correlated to the intensity of sunlight as it contacts the photovoltaic cell. Atmospheric conditions, such as cloud cover or position of the sun during the day or year, affect the intensity with which sunlight strikes the solar panels, thus setting the process of energy into motion.
  
The total energy generated on the Ameren campus in downtown St. Louis at this moment is charted with this diagram and updated every 10 seconds. This is why you may see fluctuations in energy produced by something as simple as a cloud passing overhead on an otherwise sunny day.

Because the installed capacity of each technology is different, we employ a “normalization” factor that adjusts each technology type to a common capacity. This allows us to make a valid comparison of efficiencies and output by type. More about our normalization formula.

  • Kilowatt (kW)
    A unit of measure used to express the output power of a solar array.
      
  • Kilowatthour (kWh)
    A unit of energy equivalent to one kilowatt of power expended for one hour of time. A measure of energy consumption.