Lontra, Minas Gerais, Brazil represents an excellent location for year-round solar energy generation, benefiting from its tropical position where consistent sunlight is available throughout most of the year and seasons are characterized more by wet and dry periods rather than traditional temperature variations.

Solar Energy Production Potential

The solar energy output at this location demonstrates strong consistency across all seasons. Spring offers the highest production at 6.47 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, followed closely by summer at 6.29 kWh per day. Even during the lowest production period in winter, the location still generates a respectable 5.87 kWh per day per kW, while autumn produces 6.18 kWh per day. This relatively small variation between seasons - only about 10% difference between the best and worst performing periods - makes Lontra highly suitable for solar installations. The spring and summer months represent the ideal times for peak solar generation, though the location maintains good productivity year-round.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For fixed panel installations at this location, the ideal tilt angle to maximize total year-round solar production is 16 degrees facing North. This angle has been calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles at this latitude, determining optimal panel positioning, and weighting these angles according to daily photovoltaic potential using solar irradiance data while accounting for Earth's elliptical orbit.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in this tropical location could potentially impact solar energy production:

• Seasonal rainfall patterns: The wet season can bring heavy cloud cover and frequent storms that reduce solar irradiance
• High humidity levels: Tropical humidity can lead to moisture buildup on panels and reduce efficiency
• Dust and vegetation growth: The combination of dry periods followed by wet seasons can create dust accumulation and rapid plant growth around installations
• Temperature effects: High ambient temperatures typical of tropical regions can reduce panel efficiency

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

To ensure maximum energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies should be considered:

• Enhanced drainage systems: Install proper drainage around panel arrays to prevent water pooling during heavy rains
• Regular cleaning schedules: Implement frequent panel cleaning, especially during transitions between dry and wet seasons
• Improved ventilation: Design installations with adequate air circulation beneath panels to reduce heat buildup and improve efficiency
• Vegetation management: Maintain clear zones around installations and implement regular landscaping to prevent shading from fast-growing tropical plants
• Quality mounting systems: Use corrosion-resistant materials suitable for high-humidity environments

Despite these considerations, Lontra's consistent solar output throughout the year makes it a highly favorable location for solar energy projects, with the potential challenges being manageable through proper planning and maintenance practices.

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 Lontra

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -15.8394, Longitude: -44.2782 (Lontra, 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 Lontra, Brazil

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Lontra, Brazil (Lat/Long -15.8394, -44.2782) 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 Lontra, 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 Lontra, 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
0° in Summer	22° North in Autumn	31° North in Winter	10° 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 Lontra, 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 Lontra, 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 Lontra, Brazil

Topography Around Lontra, Brazil

Lontra is situated in the northern region of Minas Gerais state, within the Cerrado biome that characterizes much of central Brazil. The landscape around this municipality features gently rolling hills and plateaus typical of the Brazilian Highlands, with elevations generally ranging between 500 and 800 meters above sea level. The terrain is predominantly composed of ancient crystalline rocks covered by lateritic soils, creating a relatively stable geological foundation. The topography exhibits a gradual transition from higher elevations in the south toward lower-lying areas as one moves north toward the São Francisco River valley. Small streams and seasonal watercourses meander through shallow valleys, creating a subtle undulating pattern across the landscape. These drainage features are generally well-integrated into the broader watershed system, with most waterways eventually flowing toward the São Francisco River basin. The region's characteristic Cerrado vegetation consists primarily of grasslands interspersed with scattered trees and small patches of gallery forest along watercourses. This relatively open landscape provides excellent visibility across considerable distances, with few significant topographical barriers or dense forest cover that might create shading issues for solar installations.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations around Lontra would be the elevated plateaus and gentle slopes that dominate the southern and eastern portions of the municipality. These areas offer several advantages including stable geological conditions, minimal risk of flooding, and relatively uniform terrain that facilitates construction and maintenance activities. The higher elevation areas provide natural drainage advantages, reducing concerns about water accumulation during the rainy season while maintaining good accessibility for equipment transport and installation. The gradual slopes found throughout much of the region are ideal for solar panel positioning, allowing for optimal orientation without requiring extensive grading or earthwork. Areas with southern exposure on gentle slopes would be particularly advantageous, as they can be oriented to maximize solar collection throughout the year. The open Cerrado landscape means that shading from vegetation or topographical features is minimal, allowing for flexible site selection and panel arrangement. The proximity to existing transportation infrastructure, including regional highways that connect to larger urban centers, makes certain zones more practical for development. Areas within reasonable distance of electrical transmission lines would also be preferable, as this reduces the infrastructure investment required for grid connection. Locations that avoid the immediate vicinity of watercourses and wetland areas would be most appropriate, both for environmental protection and to ensure stable foundation conditions. The relatively flat to gently rolling terrain found across much of the municipality provides numerous suitable sites that meet these criteria while offering the space requirements necessary for utility-scale solar 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.