Solar in Missouri: payback, sun by city and utility-scale capacity
Across 5 Missouri cities, yearly output runs from 1,388 kWh per kW in St. Louis to 1,445 in Kansas City. Jul is the best month at 147 kWh per kW and Dec the worst at 81. Missouri pays back in 16.0 years at $3.00 a watt (rank 40 of 51), 2.5 years longer than the middle state. 1,386 kWh per kW (rank 21) at 13.49 ¢ (rank 37 from the top): sunshine drives it. Utility-scale solar in Missouri: 1,425 MW in 36 plants, 2.2% of 2025 generation; 1,691 MW more under construction or planned.
Sun inside Missouri: 5 cities, 4% apart
| Missouri city | kWh per kW a year | Against state point | Sun, kWh/m2 a day | Payback at $3.00 | Residents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 1,445 | +4.2% | 5.09 | 15.4 | 508,233 |
| St. Louis | 1,388 | +0.1% | 4.92 | 16.0 | 293,109 |
| Springfield | 1,400 | +1.0% | 5.03 | 15.9 | 169,432 |
| Columbia | 1,402 | +1.1% | 4.93 | 15.9 | 127,200 |
| St. Joseph | 1,421 | +2.5% | 4.98 | 15.7 | 71,542 |
Missouri state point 38.55, -92.28; city points Kansas City 39.12, -94.56; St. Louis 38.64, -90.25; Springfield 37.19, -93.29; Columbia 38.95, -92.33; St. Joseph 39.76, -94.82. Panel and method: solar method.
Output by month in Missouri cities: 12 rows
| Missouri month | Kansas City | St. Louis | Springfield | Columbia | St. Joseph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 89.1 | 76.9 | 87.6 | 80.5 | 90.6 |
| Feb | 97.5 | 95.8 | 80.9 | 84.3 | 94.6 |
| Mar | 126.2 | 114.7 | 124.8 | 124.8 | 114.1 |
| Apr | 134.1 | 131.2 | 131.3 | 134.6 | 133.6 |
| May | 144.2 | 136.9 | 139.7 | 141.7 | 136.9 |
| Jun | 146.7 | 147.6 | 143.6 | 145.1 | 148.7 |
| Jul | 149.4 | 149.1 | 145.8 | 150.8 | 155.0 |
| Aug | 139.9 | 142.5 | 142.6 | 138.0 | 144.7 |
| Sep | 131.1 | 131.3 | 124.0 | 128.4 | 129.9 |
| Oct | 116.0 | 113.6 | 117.5 | 117.4 | 111.5 |
| Nov | 89.0 | 77.0 | 86.5 | 86.7 | 86.7 |
| Dec | 81.9 | 71.2 | 75.7 | 69.5 | 74.7 |
Missouri: 5 cities, best month 155 and worst 70 kWh per kW across them.
CSVBest and worst month in Missouri: Jul 147, Dec 81 kWh per kW
| Missouri month | kWh per kW | Price ¢ | Value per kW | kWh per kW per sun unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 83.0 | 11.21 | $9.30 | 0.85 |
| Feb | 93.3 | 11.27 | $10.51 | 0.83 |
| Mar | 109.9 | 12.01 | $13.20 | 0.81 |
| Apr | 117.5 | 12.88 | $15.13 | 0.78 |
| May | 144.1 | 13.01 | $18.75 | 0.76 |
| Jun | 142.8 | 15.91 | $22.72 | 0.74 |
| Jul | 146.8 | 15.56 | $22.84 | 0.73 |
| Aug | 142.8 | 15.46 | $22.08 | 0.73 |
| Sep | 125.3 | 15.84 | $19.85 | 0.75 |
| Oct | 112.2 | 12.95 | $14.53 | 0.79 |
| Nov | 87.9 | 13.12 | $11.53 | 0.81 |
| Dec | 80.9 | 11.91 | $9.64 | 0.83 |
Missouri: December to February give 19% of a year (rank 33 of 51, 1 = most winter); the best month is 1.8 times the worst. Output per unit of sun is highest in Jan (0.85) and lowest in Jul (0.73); PVWatts lowers cell output when the panel is hot, and the sun angle changes with the season. Our runs use one fixed 14% loss figure for every place, so snow or soiling in Missouri is not modelled separately.
Missouri: payback 16.0 years, rank 40 of 51
| Measure | Value | Rank of 51 | Median state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Output of 1 kW a year, kWh | 1,386 | 21 | 1,372 |
| Home price, ¢ per kWh | 13.49 | 37 | 15.37 |
| Value of 1 kW a year | $187 | 40 | $222 |
| Payback at $3.00 a watt | 16.0 years | 40 | 13.5 years |
EIA-861 (2024): 30,816 home net-metered systems in Missouri, 10.5 per 1,000 accounts (rank 31), average 10.0 kW.
Utility-scale solar in Missouri: 1,425 MW
Missouri: 1,425 MW of operable utility-scale solar in 36 plants across 29 counties (EIA-860, 2025), rank 23 of 51; 231 W per resident, rank 30. Solar made 2.2% of Missouri's net generation in 2025 (EIA-923), rank 33, -4.6 points against the national share. Biggest plants: Morris Solar in Adair County, 250 MW (2025); Huck Finn Renewable Energy Center in Audrain County, 200 MW (2024); Kelso Solar in Scott County, 200 MW (2025). By county: Audrain 330 MW, Adair 250 MW, New Madrid 200 MW, Scott 200 MW. Proposed: 831 MW under construction (5 plants) and 860 MW planned (4 plants); batteries 1 MW running and 431 MW proposed.
| Missouri year | MW added | Cumulative share of today's MW |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 | 0% |
| 2020 | 0 | 0% |
| 2021 | 14 | 1% |
| 2022 | 14 | 2% |
| 2023 | 10 | 3% |
| 2024 | 369 | 29% |
| 2025 | 955 | 96% |
Sizes and prices per watt in Missouri
| Missouri kW | kWh a year | Value a year | Cost at $2.50 | At $3.00 | At $3.50 | t CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5,546 | $748 | $10,000 | $12,000 | $14,000 | 3.6 |
| 6 | 8,318 | $1,122 | $15,000 | $18,000 | $21,000 | 5.4 |
| 8 | 11,091 | $1,496 | $20,000 | $24,000 | $28,000 | 7.3 |
| 10 | 13,864 | $1,870 | $25,000 | $30,000 | $35,000 | 9.1 |
| 12 | 16,637 | $2,244 | $30,000 | $36,000 | $42,000 | 10.9 |
| Missouri $ per watt | 100% retail | 75% | 50% | 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2.00 | 10.7 | 14.3 | 21.4 | 42.8 |
| $2.50 | 13.4 | 17.8 | 26.7 | 53.5 |
| $3.00 | 16.0 | 21.4 | 32.1 | 64.2 |
| $3.50 | 18.7 | 25.0 | 37.4 | 74.9 |
| $4.00 | 21.4 | 28.5 | 42.8 | 85.5 |
Missouri: 1,386 kWh/kW × 13.49 ¢ = 187 a year per kW; the 30% column (11.2 years at $3.00) is arithmetic only.
CSVNet metering and CO2 in Missouri
EIA-861 (2024): 30,816 home net-metered systems in Missouri, 10.5 per 1,000 accounts (rank 31), average 10.0 kW.
6 kW in Missouri: 8,318 kWh a year displaces 5.4 t CO2 at 0.655 kg per kWh, +2.4 t against the average state.
Missouri among its neighbours
| Closest to Missouri | Payback, years | kWh per kW | Price, ¢ | Utility-scale solar, points of generation | Miles away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri (this page) | 16.0 | 1,386 | 13.49 | 2.2 | - |
| Kansas | -2.1 | +96 | +1.07 | -1.5 | 220 |
| Arkansas | +1.0 | -15 | -0.65 | +4.7 | 230 |
| Iowa | -0.1 | -14 | +0.23 | -0.5 | 237 |
| Illinois | -3.1 | -79 | +4.20 | +1.3 | 289 |
Missouri against its neighbours in the payback ranking
- -1 places, Iowa -0.1 years against Missouri
- +0 places, South Dakota -0.0 years against Missouri
- Missouri, rank 40: 16.0 years
- +2 places, Louisiana +0.0 years against Missouri
- +3 places, West Virginia +0.2 years against Missouri
Missouri utilities and solar payback
| Missouri utility | Homes | Price ¢ | Value of 1 kW | Payback at $3.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Electric Co | 1,095,619 | 12.56 | $174 | 17.2 yr |
| Evergy Missouri West | 305,583 | 12.55 | $174 | 17.2 yr |
| Evergy Metro | 273,860 | 13.72 | $190 | 15.8 yr |
| Empire District Electric Co | 142,537 | 14.99 | $208 | 14.4 yr |
| City Utilities of Springfield | 105,029 | 11.47 | $159 | 18.9 yr |
| Cuivre River Electric Coop Inc | 72,974 | 11.07 | $154 | 19.5 yr |
| City of Independence | 53,832 | 15.74 | $218 | 13.7 yr |
| City of Columbia | 45,651 | 13.94 | $193 | 15.5 yr |
| Southwest Electric Coop, Inc | 41,386 | 11.99 | $166 | 18.0 yr |
| White River Valley El Coop Inc | 39,216 | 14.30 | $198 | 15.1 yr |
| Laclede Electric Coop, Inc | 35,026 | 11.73 | $163 | 18.5 yr |
| Boone Electric Coop | 33,806 | 13.40 | $186 | 16.1 yr |
Your numbers for Missouri
Limits in Missouri
Missouri: with the old 30% credit (IRS, ended 2025) payback would be 11.2 years instead of 16.0, so the calculator starts at 0%. No Missouri export rates in our data: output counts at 13.49 ¢. All limits.
Sources for Missouri
- PVWatts v8 (NLR), 5 Missouri cities and one state point: 1,386 kWh per kW
- EIA-860 2025 and EIA-923 2025: 1,425 MW of solar in Missouri
- EIA-861 2024: 30,816 net-metered systems in Missouri
- EIA retail sales 2025: 13.49 ¢ per kWh in Missouri
- IRS 25D (ended 2025): 11.2 years in Missouri with it; licences and periods for Missouri
More about Missouri
Missouri electricity hub, Missouri EV charging: 1,320 stations, where Missouri ranks for rooftop solar, 16.0 years against 51 states, Missouri calculators.
Questions
Where in Missouri is solar best?
Yes: 4% between St. Louis and Kansas City in yearly output.
Solar payback in Missouri?
16.0 years at $3.00 a watt; 13.4 at $2.50; 18.7 at $3.50; 1,386 kWh per kW at 13.49 ¢.
Winter cut in Missouri solar output?
December to February give 19% of the year; Jul makes 147 kWh per kW and Dec 81.
Missouri electricity from solar, what share?
2.2% of 2025 net generation, rank 33 of 51, -4.6 points against the nation.
Missouri sunshine for solar panels?
1,386 kWh per kW a year at the state point, rank 21 of 51; from 1,388 in St. Louis to 1,445 in Kansas City.
Net metering in Missouri?
30,816 systems, 10.5 per 1,000 accounts, rank 31.
Missouri utility-scale solar capacity?
1,425 MW in 36 plants (EIA-860), 231 W per resident, rank 30; 1,691 MW proposed.
Missouri pays half price for exports?
Payback 32.1 years at a 50% retail share.
CO2 displaced in Missouri?
5.4 t a year on 6 kW at 0.655 kg per kWh.
Federal solar credit in Missouri: still available?
Ended 2025 (IRS 25D); with it Missouri payback would be 11.2 years, not 16.0.