Solar Energy Potential in Barroso, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Barroso, Minas Gerais, Brazil, located at latitude -21.1856 and longitude -43.979, offers promising conditions for solar energy generation throughout the year. This tropical location benefits from relatively consistent sunlight patterns, with seasons defined more by wet and dry periods rather than dramatic temperature variations. The solar energy output in Barroso follows a predictable seasonal pattern. During summer, solar panels can generate approximately 6.08 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity, representing the peak production period of the year. As autumn arrives, the generation capacity decreases slightly to 5.25 kWh per day. Winter sees the lowest production at 4.56 kWh per day, while spring brings a recovery to 5.18 kWh per day per kilowatt installed.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Barroso, Minas Gerais, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 20 degrees facing North. This specific angle optimizes solar capture throughout the year, accounting for the location's position in the Southern Hemisphere and the Earth's elliptical orbit around the sun. The relatively small variation between seasonal production values (from 4.56 to 6.08 kWh/day) indicates good year-round solar potential. This consistent production pattern makes Barroso an attractive location for solar PV installations, as systems can provide relatively stable energy output throughout the year, with only a modest 25% reduction during winter months compared to peak summer production.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several environmental factors could potentially impact solar production in Barroso:

• Seasonal rainfall: The region experiences a rainy season which could temporarily reduce solar efficiency due to cloud cover and direct precipitation on panels.
• Dust accumulation: During dry periods, dust and pollen can accumulate on panel surfaces, gradually reducing efficiency.
• Potential for occasional hailstorms: Though rare, these could pose a physical risk to installations.

To mitigate these factors, several preventative measures should be considered during installation. Self-cleaning panel technologies or regular maintenance schedules can address dust accumulation. Installing panels with high-quality tempered glass can provide protection against potential hail damage. Additionally, proper drainage systems around ground-mounted installations can prevent water accumulation during heavy rainfall periods. Despite these considerations, the consistent solar radiation throughout the year makes Barroso a highly suitable location for solar PV installations, with the potential to generate substantial clean energy across all seasons.

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 3161 locations across Brazil. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.

Link: Solar PV potential in Brazil by location

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

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -21.1856, Longitude: -43.979 (Barroso, Brazil), 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 20° North in Barroso, Brazil

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Barroso, Brazil (Lat/Long -21.1856, -43.979) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 20° North 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 Barroso, Brazil

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 Barroso, Brazil. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 20° North tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
5° North in Summer	27° North in Autumn	37° North in Winter	15° North 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 Barroso, Brazil

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 Barroso, Brazil.

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 Barroso, Brazil

The region around Barroso, located in the state of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil, features a diverse and undulating topography characteristic of the Brazilian highlands. This area sits within the Serra da Mantiqueira mountain range system, with elevations generally ranging between 900 to 1,100 meters above sea level. The landscape is characterized by rolling hills, plateaus, and valleys carved by numerous waterways that have shaped the terrain over millennia. The topographical profile of Barroso exhibits a mixture of gently sloping hills interspersed with steeper ridges. These hills typically have rounded summits, a result of long-term erosion processes common in this tropical region. The municipality itself is situated in a small valley surrounded by these hills, creating a basin-like setting for the urban area.

Hydrography and Its Impact on Topography

The region's topography is significantly influenced by its hydrographic network. The area around Barroso is part of the Rio Grande basin, with several smaller rivers and streams flowing through the landscape. These waterways have carved valleys between the hills, creating natural corridors throughout the region. The Ribeirão Alberto Dias is one of the notable local waterways that has shaped the immediate surroundings of Barroso.

Vegetation and Land Use

The natural vegetation of this region consists primarily of cerrado (savanna) and Atlantic Forest remnants, though much of the original vegetation has been modified for agricultural, pastoral, and mining activities. The hills are often covered with a mixture of grasslands, scattered trees, and secondary forest growth. In the valleys and along watercourses, the vegetation tends to be denser, forming gallery forests.

Optimal Areas for Solar PV Development

For large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, the ideal areas near Barroso would be the elevated plateaus and gentler slopes of the surrounding hills, particularly those with northern exposure (in the Southern Hemisphere, north-facing slopes receive more solar radiation). These elevated areas typically experience less fog and cloud cover than the valleys, making them more suitable for solar energy capture. The plateaus to the south and southeast of Barroso present particularly favorable conditions for solar PV development. These areas combine relatively flat terrain (reducing installation costs) with good elevation (minimizing shadowing effects) and appropriate orientation. The gently rolling hills in these sectors offer sufficient land area for large installations while requiring minimal grading and earth-moving operations. Areas to avoid would include the steeper slopes, especially those facing south, as well as the valley bottoms where morning fog can be persistent during certain seasons. Additionally, the riparian zones along waterways should be preserved for environmental reasons and are generally less suitable for development due to potential flooding and higher humidity levels.

Soil and Geological Considerations

The soil composition around Barroso is influenced by the region's geological history, with predominant lateritic soils that have developed over the underlying bedrock. These soils are typically well-drained on the hillsides but can be more moisture-retentive in the valleys. For solar PV installations, the stable, well-drained soils of the plateau areas provide good foundation conditions with minimal risk of erosion or subsidence. It's worth noting that Barroso has a history of mining activity, particularly limestone extraction for cement production. These previously disturbed areas, if no longer active, could potentially be repurposed for solar energy development, offering an environmentally beneficial reuse of already modified landscapes.

Brazil solar PV Stats as a country

Brazil ranks 13th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 13,708 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 2.50% of Brazil's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 31st in the world). Each year Brazil is generating 64 Watts from solar PV per capita (Brazil ranks 47th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]

Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Brazil?

Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Brazil. The Brazilian government offers a range of tax credits and other financial incentives to encourage the adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar power. These include reduced import taxes on solar equipment, accelerated depreciation of investments in renewable energy projects, and preferential financing from public banks. Additionally, some states offer additional incentives such as subsidies or grants for businesses that install solar systems.

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

Citation Guide

Article Details for Citation

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.