Solar Energy Potential in Felisburgo, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Felisburgo, Minas Gerais, Brazil, located at latitude -16.6615 and longitude -40.7181, offers promising conditions for solar energy generation throughout the year. This tropical location benefits from relatively consistent sunlight patterns that make it suitable for photovoltaic (PV) installations.

Seasonal Solar Production

The solar energy production in Felisburgo shows remarkable consistency across three of the four seasons. During summer months, solar panels can generate approximately 5.76 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. This excellent production continues through autumn with nearly identical output at 5.73 kWh/day, and returns strongly in spring with 5.75 kWh/day. Winter represents the only significant dip in production, with output decreasing to 4.46 kWh/day per installed kilowatt. However, even this reduced winter production remains substantial compared to many other global locations, demonstrating Felisburgo's favorable position for year-round solar energy harvesting.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Felisburgo, Minas Gerais, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 16 degrees facing North. This specific angle has been calculated to optimize energy capture throughout the year, accounting for the location's position in the southern hemisphere and seasonal sun path variations.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several factors may affect solar production in Felisburgo that should be considered when planning installations:

• Heavy seasonal rains during the wet season can temporarily reduce solar efficiency through cloud cover and panel soiling
• High humidity levels may accelerate weathering of components if not properly rated for tropical conditions
• Potential for vegetation growth and shading in this tropical region requires regular maintenance

To mitigate these challenges, solar installations in Felisburgo should incorporate:

• Self-cleaning panel technologies or regular cleaning schedules, especially before and after the rainy season
• Corrosion-resistant mounting hardware and marine-grade components
• Sufficient elevation from ground level and strategic positioning to minimize shading from rapidly growing tropical vegetation
• Quality inverters with high humidity tolerance ratings

With these considerations addressed, Felisburgo presents an excellent location for solar energy generation with strong and consistent production potential throughout most of the year, particularly during summer, autumn, and spring months.

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 Felisburgo

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -16.6615, Longitude: -40.7181 (Felisburgo, 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 16° North in Felisburgo, Brazil

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Felisburgo, Brazil (Lat/Long -16.6615, -40.7181) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 16° 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 Felisburgo, 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 Felisburgo, Brazil. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 16° North tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
1° North in Summer	22° North in Autumn	32° North in Winter	11° 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 Felisburgo, 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 Felisburgo, 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 Felisburgo, Brazil

The topography around Felisburgo, Minas Gerais in Brazil presents a diverse landscape characterized by rolling hills, valleys, and elevated plateaus typical of the region's transition between the Atlantic coastal plains and the interior highlands. Felisburgo sits at approximately 300-400 meters above sea level in the eastern portion of Minas Gerais state, within the broader Jequitinhonha Valley region. The terrain surrounding Felisburgo features moderate elevation changes with gentle to moderately steep slopes. The area is part of the Brazilian Highlands, which gradually rise from the coastal areas toward the interior. This undulating landscape is dissected by numerous small rivers and streams that form part of the Jequitinhonha River basin, creating valleys between the hills.

Vegetation and Land Cover

The natural vegetation around Felisburgo represents a transition zone between the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) and drier cerrado (savanna) formations. Much of the original forest cover has been altered through human activities, primarily for agriculture and cattle ranching. The remaining vegetation consists of secondary forest growth, pastures, and agricultural lands. This mixed landscape creates varied topographical features with differing soil conditions and exposure.

Optimal Areas for Solar PV Development

For large-scale solar photovoltaic installations, several areas near Felisburgo show promising characteristics based on topographical considerations: The gently sloping plateaus to the west and northwest of Felisburgo offer ideal conditions for solar PV deployment. These areas typically feature more consistent elevation, reduced risk of shadowing from surrounding terrain, and good solar exposure throughout the day. The more level terrain also reduces construction and maintenance costs associated with extensive grading or specialized mounting systems. Some of the cleared pasture lands on south-eastern facing slopes receive excellent solar radiation and present minimal shadowing concerns. These areas often have already been cleared of dense vegetation, reducing the environmental impact and land preparation costs for solar installations. The higher elevation areas approximately 10-15 kilometers to the north of Felisburgo provide favorable conditions with reduced atmospheric interference and potentially lower average temperatures, which can benefit PV panel efficiency. These elevated locations often experience less fog and atmospheric moisture than the lower valley areas.

Topographical Challenges

Despite the generally favorable conditions, some topographical challenges exist for solar development in the region. The more steeply inclined hillsides, particularly those facing east or west, may experience partial shadowing during morning or afternoon periods, reducing overall generation potential. Additionally, the valleys and water courses that cut through the landscape create natural divisions that might complicate the development of contiguous large-scale installations. The region's soil composition varies considerably across the undulating terrain, with some areas presenting lateritic soils that may require additional engineering considerations for mounting system foundations. Erosion potential on steeper slopes also necessitates careful site selection and preparation to ensure long-term stability of large solar arrays. In conclusion, the topography around Felisburgo offers numerous suitable locations for solar PV development, with the most promising sites being the gently sloping plateaus and cleared agricultural lands that feature good solar exposure, minimal shadowing, and reasonable access for construction and maintenance operations.

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

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