Solar Energy Potential in Itapecuru Mirim, Maranhão, Brazil

Itapecuru Mirim, Maranhão, Brazil offers excellent conditions for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. Located in the tropics at coordinates -3.4182, -44.3134, this site benefits from consistent sunlight patterns that make it highly suitable for solar power installations. The location demonstrates remarkable consistency in solar energy production across all seasons. Solar panels at this site can generate 5.32kWh per day for each kilowatt installed during summer, increasing to 5.74kWh/day in autumn, 5.83kWh/day in winter, and reaching its peak at 6.01kWh/day during spring. This pattern shows that spring offers the most productive period for solar generation, though the variation between seasons remains relatively small.

Optimal Panel Installation

For maximum energy harvest throughout the year, fixed solar panels should be installed at a 4-degree tilt facing North. This specific angle has been calculated to optimize year-round solar production based on the site's proximity to the equator. The minimal tilt requirement reflects the location's tropical positioning, where the sun passes nearly directly overhead throughout much of the year.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several factors could potentially impact solar production at this location:

• High humidity and rainfall during wet seasons can reduce panel efficiency through increased cloud cover
• Dust and pollen accumulation is common in tropical environments
• Potential for tropical storms that could physically damage installations

To mitigate these challenges, installations should include regular cleaning systems to remove dust and debris. Panels should be secured with storm-resistant mounting systems capable of withstanding strong winds. Additionally, investing in high-quality panels with anti-reflective coatings that perform well in diffuse light conditions can help maintain production during cloudier periods of the wet season.

Year-Round Production Outlook

The minimal seasonal variation in energy output (less than 0.7kWh/day difference between the highest and lowest producing seasons) indicates that Itapecuru Mirim offers dependable solar production throughout the year. This consistency is a significant advantage compared to locations at higher latitudes where seasonal differences can be much more pronounced.

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 Itapecuru Mirim

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -3.4182, Longitude: -44.3134 (Itapecuru Mirim, 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 4° North in Itapecuru Mirim, Brazil

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Itapecuru Mirim, Brazil (Lat/Long -3.4182, -44.3134) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 4° 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 Itapecuru Mirim, 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 Itapecuru Mirim, Brazil. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 4° North tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
12° South in Summer	10° North in Autumn	19° North in Winter	2° 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 Itapecuru Mirim, 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 Itapecuru Mirim, 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 Itapecuru Mirim, Brazil

The region surrounding Itapecuru Mirim in northeastern Brazil features a predominantly flat to gently undulating topography typical of the transition zone between the Amazon basin and Brazil's northeastern highlands. Situated in Maranhão state, this area exhibits a landscape characterized by low-lying plains with occasional modest hills that rarely exceed 100 meters in elevation above sea level. The Itapecuru River, after which the municipality is named, serves as a defining geographical feature, carving a meandering path through the terrain and creating natural floodplains along its course.

Landscape Characteristics

The topographical profile around Itapecuru Mirim consists primarily of sedimentary formations that have been shaped over geological timescales. The soil composition tends toward sandy-clay mixtures, with lateritic crusts appearing in certain locations. Vegetation in the region represents a transition between the Amazon rainforest and the drier cerrado (savanna) ecosystems, with varying degrees of forest density depending on proximity to water sources and human development. The surrounding countryside displays a patchwork of agricultural clearings, secondary forest growth, and remnant patches of native vegetation. Elevation changes are gradual rather than dramatic, creating an open horizon in many directions that receives substantial solar exposure throughout the year.

Solar PV Potential Areas

Several factors make specific zones near Itapecuru Mirim particularly suitable for large-scale solar photovoltaic development. The most promising areas include: The elevated plateaus to the east and southeast of the municipality offer ideal conditions for solar installations. These slightly higher elevation areas benefit from reduced flood risk, minimal shading from topographical features, and good exposure to the sun's path throughout the day. The gently rolling terrain in these sectors would require minimal grading for installation of mounting systems. Open agricultural lands between Itapecuru Mirim and neighboring Miranda do Norte present favorable conditions with their already-cleared expanses and proximity to existing transportation infrastructure. These areas combine flat topography with accessibility advantages. The drier upland zones extending toward the municipalities of Vargem Grande and Nina Rodrigues feature less vegetation coverage and reduced cloud formation compared to riverside areas, potentially maximizing solar exposure. These locations also typically have lower agricultural productivity, making them economically sensible choices for conversion to energy production. Areas to generally avoid include the immediate floodplains of the Itapecuru River, which face seasonal inundation risks, and the more densely forested sectors to the west where clearing would create greater environmental impact. Additionally, any locations with significant morning or afternoon shading from even modest hills would reduce generation efficiency. The region's climate pattern, featuring a pronounced dry season, provides natural advantages for solar energy capture while the relatively consistent year-round temperatures help maintain predictable panel efficiency. The modest elevation changes throughout the area mean that microclimate variations are minimal, allowing for consistent performance across large installations.

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.