Below is the average daily output per kW of Solar PV installed for each season, along with the ideal solar panel tilt angles calculated for various locations in South Africa. Click on any location for more detailed information.

Explore the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential across 137 locations in South Africa, from Thohoyandou to Struisbaai. We have utilized empirical solar and meteorological data obtained from NASA's POWER API to determine solar PV potential and identify the optimal panel tilt angles for these locations.

Feel free to contact us if you wish for us to include a general Solar PV Analysis for a certain city or location not already listed here for South Africa. We will be more than happy to manually add it for you.

Location	Subdivision	Latitude	Longitude	kWh/day Summer	kWh/day Autumn	kWh/day Winter	kWh/day Spring	Panel Tilt Angle
Thohoyandou	Limpopo	-22.8143	30.5061	6.10	5.95	4.64	6.24	22° North
Louis Trichardt	Limpopo	-23.0502827	29.9170356	6.31	5.83	4.76	6.48	22° North
Giyani	Limpopo	-23.3222	30.719	5.74	5.57	4.50	5.69	22° North
Tzaneen	Limpopo	-23.8287	30.1672	5.74	5.57	4.50	5.69	23° North
Polokwane	Limpopo	-23.8783	29.4326	6.28	5.86	4.82	6.47	23° North
Phalaborwa	Limpopo	-23.95	31.1167	6.04	5.66	4.43	5.75	23° North
Ga-Sekororo		-24.2081286	30.4088577	6.21	5.72	4.68	6.16	23° North
Hoedspruit	Limpopo	-24.3486	30.9694	6.24	5.68	4.62	6.16	23° North
Modimolle	Limpopo	-24.6959	28.3998	6.35	5.91	4.96	6.77	23° North
Bela-Bela	Limpopo	-24.8787	28.2806	6.38	5.87	4.90	6.78	24° North
Lydenburg	Mpumalanga	-25.0995	30.4494	6.01	5.62	4.70	6.15	24° North
Komatipoort	Mpumalanga	-25.4333	31.9333	5.91	5.49	4.43	5.56	24° North
Nelspruit	Mpumalanga	-25.4635	30.9624	5.98	5.66	4.76	6.15	24° North
Hartbeespoort	North West	-25.6356	27.7849	6.40	5.85	4.94	7.11	24° North
Rustenburg	North West	-25.6608	27.2526	6.40	5.85	4.94	7.11	24° North
Pretoria	Gauteng	-25.7599	28.2604	6.40	5.89	4.97	7.03	24° North
Middelburg	Mpumalanga	-25.7848	29.4633	6.52	5.94	4.98	6.92	24° North
Bronkhorstspruit	Gauteng	-25.8079	28.738	6.40	5.89	4.97	7.03	24° North
Emalahleni	Mpumalanga	-25.8677	29.2319	6.52	5.94	4.98	6.92	24° North
Mafikeng	North West	-25.8681	25.6532	6.66	5.99	5.03	7.68	24° North
Centurion	Gauteng	-25.8775	28.168	6.40	5.89	4.97	7.03	25° North
Olifantsfontein	Gauteng	-25.9645	28.2417	6.40	5.89	4.97	7.03	25° North
Midrand	Gauteng	-25.9766	28.1144	6.40	5.89	4.97	7.03	25° North
Fourways	Gauteng	-26.0343	27.9844	6.38	5.81	4.80	7.23	24° North
Sunninghill	Gauteng	-26.0364	28.0713	6.29	5.73	4.76	7.02	25° North
Woodmead	Gauteng	-26.0447	28.0777	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Sandton	Gauteng	-26.0488	28.0744	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Bryanston	Gauteng	-26.0531	28.0327	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Sundowner	Gauteng	-26.0818	27.9332	6.38	5.81	4.80	7.23	24° North
Randburg	Gauteng	-26.0884	27.9895	6.38	5.81	4.80	7.23	24° North
Ferndale	Gauteng	-26.0884	27.9895	6.38	5.81	4.80	7.23	25° North
Krugersdorp	Gauteng	-26.0977	27.768	6.38	5.81	4.80	7.23	25° North
Kempton Park	Gauteng	-26.1044	28.2521	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Edenvale	Gauteng	-26.1293	28.1832	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Delmas	Mpumalanga	-26.1427	28.6793	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Dowerglen	Gauteng	-26.1443	28.1335	6.29	5.73	4.76	7.02	25° North
Lichtenburg	North West	-26.1516	26.1707	6.66	5.80	4.78	7.59	24° North
Randfontein	Gauteng	-26.1663	27.6986	6.38	5.81	4.80	7.23	25° North
Bedfordview	Gauteng	-26.1663	28.1291	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Roodepoort	Gauteng	-26.1724	27.8684	6.38	5.81	4.80	7.23	25° North
Benoni	Gauteng	-26.1833	28.3167	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Germiston	Gauteng	-26.2135	28.1858	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Boksburg	Gauteng	-26.2198	28.251	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Booysens	Gauteng	-26.2278	28.0212	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Alberton	Gauteng	-26.2296	28.1272	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Brakpan	Gauteng	-26.2332	28.3644	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Springs	Gauteng	-26.2477	28.4037	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Soweto	Gauteng	-26.2694	27.8679	6.42	5.77	4.74	7.23	25° North
Westonaria	Gauteng	-26.2838	27.7164	6.38	5.81	4.80	7.23	25° North
Eldoradopark	Gauteng	-26.3006	27.9023	6.42	5.77	4.74	7.23	25° North
Ventersdorp	North West	-26.318	26.8079	6.62	5.84	4.84	7.59	25° North
Vosloorus	Gauteng	-26.3578	28.2067	6.26	5.78	4.82	7.01	25° North
Johannesburg	Gauteng	-26.3811	27.8376	6.38	5.81	4.80	7.23	25° North
eMbalenhle	Mpumalanga	-26.5292	29.0667	6.25	5.75	4.69	6.76	25° North
Ermelo	Mpumalanga	-26.5387	29.9857	6.22	5.79	4.75	6.75	25° North
Trichardt	Mpumalanga	-26.5454	29.1683	6.22	5.79	4.75	6.75	25° North
Secunda	Mpumalanga	-26.5459	29.1682	6.22	5.79	4.75	6.75	25° North
Meyerton	Gauteng	-26.5663	28.0177	6.29	5.73	4.76	7.02	25° North
Sebokeng	Gauteng	-26.5849	27.8261	6.42	5.77	4.74	7.23	25° North
Vereeniging	Gauteng	-26.6668	27.9362	6.42	5.77	4.74	7.23	25° North
Delareyville	North West	-26.6825	25.4711	6.93	5.94	4.90	7.82	25° North
Vanderbijlpark	Gauteng	-26.7005	27.8179	6.38	5.81	4.80	7.23	25° North
Potchefstroom	North West	-26.7168	27.1054	6.38	5.81	4.80	7.23	25° North
Sasolburg	Orange Free State	-26.8145	27.8153	6.38	5.81	4.80	7.23	25° North
Klerksdorp	North West	-26.866	26.6644	6.62	5.84	4.84	7.59	25° North
Parys	Free State	-26.8986	27.449	6.42	5.77	4.74	7.23	25° North
Standerton	Mpumalanga	-26.95	29.2523	6.22	5.79	4.75	6.75	26° North
Makwassie	North West	-27.3167	25.983	6.92	5.90	4.80	7.73	25° North
Pongola	KwaZulu-Natal	-27.3869	31.6157	5.65	5.26	4.23	5.49	26° North
Kroonstad	Orange Free State	-27.6485	27.2312	6.57	5.85	4.70	7.26	26° North
Hoopstad	Orange Free State	-27.8322	25.9034	6.92	5.90	4.80	7.73	26° North
Odendaalsrus	Orange Free State	-27.8804429	26.6932967	6.89	5.88	4.75	7.61	26° North
Welkom	Orange Free State	-27.9801	26.729	6.89	5.88	4.75	7.61	26° North
Harrismith	Free State	-28.2857	29.136	5.97	5.51	4.36	6.41	27° North
Postmasburg	Northern Cape	-28.3139	23.0623	7.73	5.88	4.73	7.91	26° North
Winnie Mandela	Masilonyana Municipality	-28.6976416	26.4520605	7.03	5.79	4.64	7.57	26° North
Empangeni	KwaZulu-Natal	-28.7512	31.9011	5.63	5.08	4.08	5.40	27° North
Richards Bay	KwaZulu-Natal	-28.7866	32.1039	5.96	4.93	3.83	5.49	27° North
Bloemfontein	Orange Free State	-29.1252	26.163	7.23	5.65	4.55	7.55	27° North
KwaDukuza	KwaZulu-Natal	-29.333	31.3031	5.97	4.86	3.79	5.40	27° North
Ballito	KwaZulu-Natal	-29.5431	31.2197	5.99	4.81	3.73	5.38	27° North
Salt Rock	KwaZulu-Natal	-29.5854	31.1325	5.97	4.86	3.79	5.40	27° North
Hilton	KwaZulu-Natal	-29.6177	30.3835	5.60	5.08	4.09	5.42	28° North
Pietermaritzburg	KwaZulu-Natal	-29.6177	30.3835	5.60	5.08	4.09	5.42	28° North
Richmond	KwaZulu-Natal	-29.7532	30.9306	5.61	5.03	4.03	5.41	28° North
Durban	KwaZulu-Natal	-29.8556	31.0449	5.97	4.86	3.79	5.40	28° North
Petrusville	Northern Cape	-30.0833	24.65	8.20	5.57	4.49	7.77	27° North
eMkhomazi	KwaZulu-Natal	-30.2005	30.7976	5.54	4.71	3.82	5.16	28° North
Scottburgh	KwaZulu-Natal	-30.2807	30.7492	5.54	4.71	3.82	5.16	29° North
Pennington	KwaZulu-Natal	-30.2807	30.7492	5.55	4.66	3.75	5.14	28° North
Zastron	Orange Free State	-30.2975	27.0772	7.17	5.44	4.31	7.16	28° North
Park Rynie	KwaZulu-Natal	-30.3162746	30.7374776	5.55	4.66	3.75	5.14	28° North
Mount Ayliff	Eastern Cape	-30.7972	29.3634	6.12	5.09	4.03	6.04	29° North
Mthatha	Eastern Cape	-31.584	28.787	6.32	4.91	4.02	6.22	29° North
Beaufort West	Western Cape	-32.3567	22.583	8.73	5.21	3.96	7.28	28° North
Vredenburg	Western Cape	-32.896	17.9837	8.79	5.18	3.69	7.27	29° North
East London	Eastern Cape	-33.0354	27.9159	6.77	4.31	3.56	5.92	30° North
Langebaan	Western Cape	-33.1012	18.029	9.00	4.98	3.49	7.20	28° North
Moorreesburg	Western Cape	-33.1466	18.6655	8.98	5.03	3.56	7.22	29° North
Prince Albert	Western Cape	-33.2138	22.0364	8.36	4.88	3.77	6.84	29° North
Grahamstown	Eastern Cape	-33.3013	26.5325	6.99	4.49	3.68	6.23	30° North
Ceres	Western Cape	-33.365	19.3163	8.97	4.99	3.53	7.09	29° North
Darling	Western Cape	-33.3872	18.3838	9.00	4.98	3.49	7.20	29° North
Malmesbury	Western Cape	-33.4509	18.7378	8.98	5.03	3.56	7.22	29° North
Ladismith	Western Cape	-33.4798	21.2666	8.58	4.87	3.66	6.96	29° North
Calitzdorp	Western Cape	-33.5369	21.6809	8.58	4.87	3.66	6.96	29° North
Oudtshoorn	Western Cape	-33.5864	22.2014	8.36	4.88	3.77	6.84	30° North
Wellington	Western Cape	-33.6312	19.0001	8.97	4.99	3.53	7.09	29° North
Worcester	Western Cape	-33.6511	19.4322	8.97	4.99	3.53	7.09	29° North
Paarl	Western Cape	-33.7338	18.9716	8.98	5.03	3.56	7.22	29° North
Uitenhage	Eastern Cape	-33.7621	25.4023	7.30	4.60	3.69	6.33	30° North
Montagu	Western Cape	-33.7862	20.1136	8.81	5.03	3.73	7.16	30° North
Robertson	Western Cape	-33.8146946	19.897881	8.97	4.99	3.53	7.09	29° North
Killarney Gardens	Western Cape	-33.8255	18.5427	8.98	5.03	3.56	7.22	29° North
Durbanville	Western Cape	-33.8333	18.65	8.98	5.03	3.56	7.22	29° North
Hankey	Eastern Cape	-33.8341	24.8868	7.79	4.76	3.75	6.59	30° North
Brackenfell	Western Cape	-33.8646	18.6799	9.00	4.98	3.49	7.20	29° North
Milnerton	Western Cape	-33.8844	18.4898	9.00	4.98	3.49	7.20	29° North
Parow	Western Cape	-33.8997	18.6024	8.98	5.03	3.56	7.22	29° North
Cape Town	Western Cape	-33.914	18.4129	8.98	5.03	3.56	7.22	29° North
Franschhoek	Western Cape	-33.9146	19.1123	8.97	4.99	3.53	7.09	29° North
Stellenbosch	Western Cape	-33.9304	18.846	8.98	5.03	3.56	7.22	29° North
Kuils River	Western Cape	-33.9355	18.6639	8.98	5.03	3.56	7.22	29° North
Port Elizabeth	Eastern Cape	-33.9506	25.6228	7.30	4.60	3.69	6.33	30° North
Rondebosch	Western Cape	-33.963	18.4784	8.98	5.03	3.56	7.22	29° North
George	Western Cape	-33.9638	22.4487	8.36	4.88	3.77	6.84	30° North
Newlands	Western Cape	-33.9806	18.4449	8.98	5.03	3.56	7.22	29° North
Wynberg	Western Cape	-33.9998	18.4631	9.00	4.98	3.49	7.20	29° North
Groot-Brakrivier	Western Cape	-34.034	22.2207	7.61	4.27	3.34	6.38	30° North
Knysna	Western Cape	-34.0373	23.0331	7.53	4.36	3.34	6.34	30° North
Mitchells Plain	Western Cape	-34.0526	18.6118	8.51	4.54	3.22	6.81	29° North
Somerset West	Western Cape	-34.0858	18.8415	8.51	4.54	3.22	6.81	29° North
Strand	Western Cape	-34.1211	18.8275	8.52	4.49	3.16	6.79	29° North
Grabouw	Western Cape	-34.1492	19.0144	7.89	4.47	3.38	6.65	30° North
Mossel Bay	Western Cape	-34.1834	22.138	7.61	4.33	3.40	6.40	30° North
Hermanus	Western Cape	-34.4153	19.2287	7.89	4.47	3.38	6.65	30° North
Struisbaai	Western Cape	-34.7981	20.0588	7.72	4.28	3.35	6.46	31° North

Solar Panel Tilt Angle in South Africa

So far based on Solar PV Analysis of 137 locations in South Africa, we've discovered that the ideal angle to tilt solar PV panels in South Africa varies between 31° from the horizontal plane facing North in Struisbaai and 22° from the horizontal plane facing North in Thohoyandou.

These tilt angles are optimised for maximum annual PV output at each location for fixed-panel solar PV installations. If you click on one of the locations above, there is further detail on ideal seasonal tilt angles as well (in case your solar panels are adjustable).

Depending on where you are based in South Africa, the ideal angle to tilt your solar panels will vary by approx 9 degrees (between 31° from the horizontal plane facing North and 22° from the horizontal plane facing North).

South Africa solar PV Stats as a country

South Africa ranks 21st in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 6,221 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 2.00% of South Africa's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 34th in the world). Each year South Africa is generating 105 Watts from solar PV per capita (South Africa ranks 38th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]

Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in South Africa?

Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in South Africa. The government offers a range of financial incentives and tax breaks for businesses that invest in renewable energy projects. These include the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) program, which provides long-term contracts with guaranteed prices for electricity generated from renewable sources; the Accelerated Depreciation Allowance (ADA), which allows businesses to deduct up to 50% of their capital expenditure on renewable energy projects from their taxable income; and the Small Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) program, which provides financial support for small-scale solar installations. Additionally, some local governments offer grants or subsidies to help offset the cost of installing solar systems.

Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in South Africa? Please reach out to us and help us keep this information current. Thanks!

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Calculate Your Optimal Solar Panel Tilt Angle: A Comprehensive Guide

Elevate the performance of your solar PV installation by utilizing our thorough guide. Determine the best panel tilt angle using real-world data, debunk prevalent misconceptions and grasp how geographical location influences solar power yield.