Tongi, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar PV energy generation, with some seasonal variations that affect overall performance.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at Tongi varies significantly throughout the year. Spring emerges as the most productive season, generating 5.98 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity. This represents the peak performance period when solar panels operate at their highest efficiency. Autumn follows as the second-best performing season with 4.72 kWh per day per kW, while summer produces 4.53 kWh per day per kW. Winter shows the lowest output at 4.01 kWh per day per kW, representing a notable 33% decrease compared to spring production levels.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For fixed panel installations at this location, the ideal tilt angle is 23 degrees facing south to maximize total year-round solar production. This angle is calculated based on the location's latitude and weighted by daily photovoltaic potential using solar irradiance data, accounting for Earth's elliptical orbit around the sun.

Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several significant local factors can impede solar production in Tongi, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh:

• Monsoon season brings heavy rainfall and extended cloud cover, particularly affecting summer and early autumn production
• High humidity levels throughout the year can reduce panel efficiency and create moisture-related issues
• Dust accumulation from urban pollution and agricultural activities in the surrounding areas
• Cyclonic weather patterns during certain seasons can bring severe storms and high winds

Preventative Measures for Better Performance

To ensure greater energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies should be implemented:

• Install robust drainage systems and ensure proper panel spacing to prevent water accumulation during monsoons
• Use anti-reflective coatings and ensure adequate ventilation behind panels to combat humidity effects
• Implement regular cleaning schedules and consider hydrophobic coatings to reduce dust and debris buildup
• Design mounting systems to withstand high winds and secure panels against storm damage
• Install monitoring systems to track performance and identify weather-related efficiency drops quickly

Despite these challenges, Tongi's location in the Northern Sub Tropics provides consistent solar energy potential year-round, making it a viable location for solar PV installations when proper precautions are taken during planning and installation phases.

Note: The Northern Sub Tropics extend from 23.5° latitude North up to 35° latitude.

So far, we have conducted calculations to evaluate the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in 88 locations across Bangladesh. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.

Link: Solar PV potential in Bangladesh by location

Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Tongi

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 23.8905, Longitude: 90.398 (Tongi, Bangladesh), 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 23° South in Tongi, Bangladesh

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Tongi, Bangladesh (Lat/Long 23.8905, 90.398) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 23° 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 Tongi, Bangladesh

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 Tongi, Bangladesh. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 23° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
8° South in Summer	30° South in Autumn	39° South in Winter	17° 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 Tongi, Bangladesh

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 Tongi, Bangladesh.

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 Tongi, Bangladesh

Topographical Features Around Tongi

Tongi sits within the expansive Ganges-Brahmaputra delta region of central Bangladesh, characterized by remarkably flat terrain that extends in all directions. The landscape around this industrial city consists primarily of alluvial plains formed by centuries of river sediment deposits, creating an almost uniformly level topography with minimal elevation changes across the entire area.

The region features numerous waterways, including the Turag River which flows along the western edge of Tongi, along with an intricate network of smaller rivers, canals, and seasonal water channels that crisscross the landscape. These water bodies create a distinctive pattern of slightly elevated land areas interspersed with lower-lying zones that experience regular flooding during monsoon seasons.

Agricultural land dominates much of the surrounding countryside, with rice paddies, crop fields, and small farming plots creating a patchwork of cultivated areas. The terrain gradually transitions from more densely populated urban and industrial zones near Tongi center to increasingly rural agricultural landscapes as distance from the city increases.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The flat topographical characteristics of the Tongi region present excellent opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. Areas located to the north and northeast of the city offer particularly favorable conditions, where agricultural land remains relatively undeveloped and the terrain maintains consistent elevation levels ideal for solar panel deployment.

The eastern approaches to Tongi present another promising zone for solar development, featuring expansive flat areas with minimal existing infrastructure that would require relocation or modification. These locations benefit from the region's naturally level ground while remaining accessible via existing transportation networks.

Areas situated on slightly higher ground between major waterways would prove most suitable for permanent solar installations, as these locations experience less severe flooding impacts during monsoon periods while maintaining the advantageous flat terrain characteristics. The spaces between the Turag River system and smaller tributary channels offer particularly stable foundation conditions for large-scale solar arrays.

Western areas beyond the immediate industrial corridor also demonstrate strong potential for solar development, where the landscape opens into broader agricultural plains with fewer existing structures and consistent topographical features that would minimize site preparation costs and engineering challenges associated with solar panel installation and maintenance access.

Bangladesh solar PV Stats as a country

Bangladesh ranks 63rd in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 329 total MW's of solar PV installed. Each year Bangladesh is generating 2 Watts from solar PV per capita (Bangladesh ranks 87th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]

Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Bangladesh?

Yes, there are incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Bangladesh. The government of Bangladesh has implemented a number of policies and programs to promote the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power. These include tax exemptions, subsidies, and other financial incentives for businesses that install solar systems. Additionally, the government has set up a Renewable Energy Fund which provides grants to support research and development activities related to renewable energy technologies.

Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Bangladesh? 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.