Breves, Brazil presents an excellent location for year-round solar energy generation through photovoltaic systems. Located in the tropical region of the Amazon Delta in Pará state, this area benefits from consistent sunlight throughout the year, with seasonal variations primarily driven by wet and dry periods rather than traditional temperature-based seasons.

Solar Energy Production Potential

The solar energy output data for Breves demonstrates strong and consistent performance across all seasons. Summer produces 4.83 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, while autumn shows improved performance at 5.12 kWh per day per kW. Winter months deliver even better results with 5.85 kWh per day per kW, and spring represents the peak production period at 6.27 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. This seasonal pattern indicates that the best times for solar generation occur during winter and spring months, when the sun's angle and atmospheric conditions combine to create optimal energy production conditions. The variation between the lowest and highest production seasons is relatively modest, making this location highly suitable for consistent year-round solar energy generation. For maximum energy output from a fixed solar panel installation at Breves, panels should be tilted at an angle of 2 degrees toward the north. This optimal tilt angle maximizes total annual solar production by accounting for the sun's path throughout the year and the location's proximity to the equator.

Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several significant local factors could impact solar energy production in Breves, primarily related to its tropical rainforest climate and geographic location. The most substantial challenge comes from high humidity and frequent cloud cover during the wet season. The Amazon region experiences intense rainfall periods that can significantly reduce solar irradiance reaching the panels. Additionally, the high humidity creates ideal conditions for rapid accumulation of moisture, dust, and organic debris on panel surfaces. The location's proximity to the Amazon River system means frequent fog and mist, particularly during early morning hours. This atmospheric moisture can reduce solar efficiency even when direct sunlight is available later in the day. Tropical storms and heavy rainfall events pose risks to solar installations, requiring robust mounting systems and proper drainage considerations.

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

Several installation strategies can help maximize solar energy production despite these environmental challenges:

• Install panels with adequate spacing and ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and allow for natural cleaning by rainfall
• Use corrosion-resistant mounting hardware specifically designed for high-humidity tropical environments
• Implement regular cleaning schedules to remove accumulated organic matter and dust
• Choose solar panels with anti-reflective coatings that perform well in high-humidity conditions
• Design mounting systems to withstand tropical storm conditions with appropriate wind load calculations

Proper drainage around the installation site prevents water accumulation that could lead to electrical issues or structural problems. Additionally, selecting inverters and electrical components rated for tropical conditions ensures long-term reliability in this challenging but productive solar environment. Despite these considerations, Breves remains a highly favorable location for solar energy generation, with the consistent tropical sunlight more than compensating for the environmental challenges when proper installation practices are followed.

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 Breves

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -1.1666, Longitude: -50.5586 (Breves, 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 2° North in Breves, Brazil

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Breves, Brazil (Lat/Long -1.1666, -50.5586) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 2° 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 Breves, 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 Breves, Brazil. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 2° North tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
15° South in Summer	8° North in Autumn	17° North in Winter	5° 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 Breves, 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 Breves, 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 Breves, Brazil

Topography Around Breves, Brazil

Breves sits in the heart of the Amazon River delta region in the state of Pará, positioned on Marajó Island, the world's largest river island. The topography surrounding this area is characterized by extremely flat, low-lying terrain that rarely rises more than a few meters above sea level. This vast floodplain landscape extends in all directions, creating an almost pancake-flat environment that stretches to the horizon.

The region is dominated by an intricate network of rivers, streams, and seasonal waterways that crisscross the landscape like veins. During the wet season, much of the surrounding area becomes inundated with water, transforming the terrain into a vast wetland ecosystem. The land itself consists primarily of alluvial deposits - rich sediments carried and deposited by the Amazon River system over thousands of years.

Dense tropical rainforest covers most of the natural landscape, interspersed with areas of várzea (seasonally flooded forest) and igapó (permanently flooded forest). Where human settlement has occurred, the forest has been cleared to create pastures for cattle ranching and small-scale agriculture, revealing the underlying flat terrain more clearly.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The existing cleared agricultural and pastoral lands present the most promising opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations in the Breves region. These areas have already been deforested and converted to human use, making them environmentally preferable to clearing pristine rainforest. The cattle ranching areas, in particular, offer extensive flat expanses that would require minimal grading or terrain modification.

Areas slightly inland from the immediate riverbanks would be most suitable, as they experience less frequent flooding and offer more stable ground conditions. The higher elevation zones, though still very low by most standards, provide better drainage and reduced risk of seasonal inundation that could damage solar infrastructure.

The flat topography throughout the region eliminates concerns about shading from hills or mountains, and the minimal slopes mean that solar panels could be installed with optimal positioning across large areas without significant terrain-related constraints. However, any solar development would need to account for the region's challenging climate conditions, including high humidity, frequent rainfall, and the potential for seasonal flooding.

Transportation infrastructure would be a key consideration, as the region's remote location and river-dependent logistics could complicate the installation and maintenance of large solar facilities. Areas with existing road access or proximity to navigable waterways would be most practical for development purposes.

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!

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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.