Buritirama, Bahia, Brazil presents an excellent location for year-round solar energy generation. Located in the tropics at coordinates -10.5708, -43.6886, this area benefits from consistent sunlight throughout most of the year, with seasons characterized more by wet and dry periods rather than significant temperature variations.

Solar Energy Output Performance

The solar energy production data for Buritirama shows remarkably consistent and strong performance across all seasons. Spring emerges as the peak production period, generating 7.00 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity. Winter follows closely with 6.49 kWh/day per kW, while autumn produces 6.35 kWh/day per kW, and summer generates 6.31 kWh/day per kW. This seasonal pattern indicates that Buritirama experiences its best solar conditions during spring months, making this the ideal time for maximum energy generation. However, the relatively small variation between seasons (less than 11% difference between the highest and lowest production periods) demonstrates the location's reliability for consistent solar power throughout the year.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For fixed panel installations at this location, the ideal angle to tilt solar panels is 11 degrees North to maximize total year-round production. This calculation accounts for the daily solar elevation angles at this latitude, daily optimal panel positioning, and weights these factors using solar irradiance data while considering Earth's elliptical orbit around the sun.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several local factors could potentially impact solar production in Buritirama and require consideration during installation:

• Seasonal rainfall patterns: The tropical wet season can bring heavy rains and increased cloud cover, temporarily reducing solar irradiance
• High humidity levels: Tropical climates often maintain elevated humidity, which can affect equipment performance and create maintenance challenges
• Dust and debris accumulation: Dry seasons may lead to dust buildup on solar panels, reducing their efficiency
• Vegetation growth: The tropical environment supports rapid plant growth that could create shading issues if not properly managed

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

To ensure maximum energy production despite these environmental challenges, several preventative measures should be implemented:

• Regular cleaning schedules: Establish routine panel cleaning, particularly during and after dry seasons to remove dust accumulation
• Proper drainage systems: Install adequate drainage around solar installations to handle heavy rainfall and prevent water damage
• Vegetation management: Maintain clear zones around solar arrays and implement regular trimming schedules to prevent shading
• Corrosion-resistant materials: Use equipment specifically rated for high-humidity tropical environments to ensure longevity
• Elevated mounting: Position panels with sufficient ground clearance to promote air circulation and reduce moisture-related issues

Despite these considerations, Buritirama's consistently high solar output across all seasons makes it a highly favorable location for solar energy projects, with proper installation and maintenance practices ensuring optimal long-term performance.

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 Buritirama

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -10.5708, Longitude: -43.6886 (Buritirama, 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 11° North in Buritirama, Brazil

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Buritirama, Brazil (Lat/Long -10.5708, -43.6886) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 11° 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 Buritirama, 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 Buritirama, Brazil. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 11° North tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
5° South in Summer	17° North in Autumn	26° North in Winter	5° 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 Buritirama, 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 Buritirama, 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 Buritirama, Brazil

Topographical Features of the Buritirama Region

Located in the state of Bahia in northeastern Brazil, Buritirama sits within the expansive Caatinga biome, characterized by semi-arid landscapes and distinctive geological formations. The terrain around this municipality features relatively gentle undulations typical of the Brazilian interior, with elevations generally ranging from 400 to 600 meters above sea level. The landscape is dominated by scattered low hills and broad valleys, creating a rolling topography that extends across the region. The area forms part of the São Francisco River basin system, though the immediate vicinity of Buritirama experiences the characteristic dry conditions of the Caatinga ecosystem. Rocky outcrops and exposed bedrock are common features throughout the landscape, interspersed with areas of sandy and clay-rich soils. These geological characteristics contribute to the region's semi-arid nature, with sparse vegetation consisting primarily of drought-resistant shrubs, cacti, and small trees that shed their leaves during dry periods.

Drainage Patterns and Water Features

The regional drainage system consists mainly of intermittent streams and seasonal watercourses that flow only during the rainy season. These temporary waterways carve shallow valleys through the landscape, creating a network of gentle depressions that add subtle variation to the otherwise relatively flat terrain. The absence of permanent surface water bodies in the immediate area reflects the semi-arid climate conditions that prevail throughout much of interior Bahia.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The gently rolling topography around Buritirama presents several advantageous characteristics for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The most suitable areas for solar development would be the broad, relatively flat valley floors and gentle southern-facing slopes that characterize much of the surrounding landscape. These locations offer the ideal combination of minimal grading requirements, good solar exposure, and sufficient space for extensive array configurations. Areas with slopes of less than five degrees would be particularly well-suited for solar installations, as they minimize construction costs while maintaining optimal panel positioning. The numerous flat to gently sloping areas extending eastward and southward from Buritirama provide excellent potential sites, offering expansive tracts of land with minimal topographical obstacles. These zones would require little earth movement or grading work, significantly reducing development costs and environmental impact. The rocky outcrops and steeper hillsides scattered throughout the region would be less suitable for large installations due to uneven terrain and potential shading issues. However, the abundance of relatively flat areas more than compensates for these limitations. The sparse vegetation typical of the Caatinga biome means that land clearing requirements would be minimal compared to more densely forested regions, further enhancing the economic viability of solar development. The region's elevation provides additional benefits for solar installations, as the higher altitude can contribute to improved panel efficiency through cooler operating temperatures compared to lower-lying areas. The open landscape with minimal tree cover ensures that shading concerns are largely eliminated, allowing for flexible array design and optimal spacing between panel rows.

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.