Solar PV Analysis of Belize City, Belize
Belize City, Belize District, Belize is a pretty good location for generating solar power all year round. This is because it's in the tropics, where the sun shines consistently throughout most of the year. The amount of electricity you can get from each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar panels varies slightly with the seasons: 6.25 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in summer, 5.22 kWh/day in autumn, 4.77 kWh/day in winter and 6.58 kWh/day in spring.
The best times to generate solar power at this location are during spring and summer when sunlight output is highest - but even during autumn and winter, you'll still get a decent amount of energy.
For fixed panel installations here, tilting your panels at an angle of 16 degrees towards the south will give you maximum energy production from your solar photovoltaic (PV) system over the course of a year.
However, there could be some local factors that might affect how much electricity your solar PV system can produce:
1. Weather: Belize has two main seasons – wet and dry season which might impact energy generation as heavy rainfall or cloud cover can reduce sunlight exposure on your panels.
Prevention Measures:
- Regular cleaning/maintenance to remove any debris caused by storms or rain
- Using high-quality panels that perform well under different weather conditions
2. Environmental Factors: Belize City is located near coastal areas where salt mist could potentially damage or corrode your panel components over time.
Prevention Measures:
- Use marine-grade solar equipment designed to withstand corrosive environments
- Regularly clean and maintain your system
In conclusion, while there are some challenges associated with installing solar PV systems in Belize City due to environmental factors like rainfall and salt mist corrosion; these challenges can be mitigated through regular maintenance/cleaning procedures & using high-quality equipment designed specifically for these conditions.
Therefore overall, Belize City is a good location for solar energy production year-round.
Note: The Tropics are located between 23.5° North and -23.5° South of the equator.
So far, we have conducted calculations to evaluate the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in 9 locations across Belize. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Belize by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Belize City
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 17.5018, Longitude: -88.1956 (Belize City, Belize), 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 16° South in Belize City, Belize
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Belize City, Belize (Lat/Long 17.5018, -88.1956) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 16° 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 Belize City, Belize
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 Belize City, Belize. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 16° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2° South in Summer | 23° South in Autumn | 33° South in Winter | 11° 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 Belize City, Belize
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 Belize City, Belize.
Our calculation method
- Solar Position:
We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination. - Shadow Projection:
We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle. - 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 Belize City, Belize
Belize City is located on the eastern coast of Belize, at the mouth of the Belize River. The topography around Belize City is relatively flat and low-lying, with a mixture of coastal plains and mangrove swamps. The city itself is only a few feet above sea level.
Considering this topography, large scale solar PV installation would be most suited in areas that are flat and receive ample sunlight throughout the year. Areas away from the coastal region are likely to be more suitable as they may have less cloud cover and thus more sunlight.
However, it's also important to consider other factors such as land availability, proximity to power grids for transmission, environmental impact assessments etc., before deciding on locations for large-scale solar installations. Detailed site surveys would be required to identify specific locations within these areas.
Additionally, while not asked in your question but worth noting - due to its tropical location near the Caribbean Sea, Belize has high potential for wind energy generation too especially along its coastline or offshore islands.
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Wednesday 22nd of May 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
Tell Us About Your Work
We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.
Feeling generous?
Share this with your friends!
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.
