Pedregulho, Brazil offers excellent conditions for solar energy generation throughout the year, benefiting from its tropical location where sunlight remains relatively consistent across seasons. This municipality situated in São Paulo state experiences strong solar potential with seasonal variations that still maintain productive output levels year-round.
The solar production in Pedregulho demonstrates a predictable seasonal pattern. Summer months yield the highest energy output at 6.70kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows with a robust 6.22kWh/day, while autumn produces 5.80kWh/day. Winter shows the lowest but still substantial generation at 5.23kWh/day per kilowatt installed.
Optimal Panel Installation
For fixed solar panel installations in Pedregulho, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 19 degrees facing North. This specific angle optimizes solar collection across seasons, accounting for the location's position in the Southern Hemisphere where northern exposure captures the most sunlight throughout the year.
Seasonal Considerations
The difference between peak summer production and minimum winter output is relatively modest at approximately 28%, indicating consistent solar potential throughout the year. This makes Pedregulho an advantageous location for solar investment, as the system will continue generating substantial electricity even during the less productive winter period.
The most favorable periods for solar generation occur during summer (December-February) and spring (September-November), when daily output exceeds 6kWh per installed kilowatt. These seasons present optimal conditions for maximizing return on investment from solar installations.
Environmental Factors and Mitigation
Despite Pedregulho's overall favorable conditions, several environmental factors may affect solar production. The region experiences a distinct wet season, typically during summer months, which can temporarily reduce solar output due to cloud cover and rainfall. Installing panels with high-efficiency ratings that perform better in diffuse light conditions can help mitigate these effects.
Dust accumulation presents another consideration in this agricultural region. Regular cleaning schedules, automated cleaning systems, or rain sensors that trigger cleaning cycles after dry periods can maintain optimal panel performance. Additionally, installing panels at the recommended 19-degree tilt helps with natural cleaning during rainfall events.
Temperature is also relevant, as Pedregulho can experience high daytime temperatures that may reduce panel efficiency. Selecting panels with lower temperature coefficients and ensuring adequate airflow beneath the mounting structure can minimize efficiency losses during hot periods.
Overall, Pedregulho represents a highly suitable location for solar PV installations with consistent year-round production potential that requires only standard maintenance practices to maintain optimal energy generation.
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.
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Pedregulho
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -20.1907, Longitude: -47.4468 (Pedregulho, 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:
Average 6.70kWh/day in Summer.
Average 5.80kWh/day in Autumn.
Average 5.23kWh/day in Winter.
Average 6.22kWh/day in Spring.
Ideally tilt fixed solar panels 19° North in Pedregulho, Brazil
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Pedregulho, Brazil (Lat/Long -20.1907, -47.4468) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 19° 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.
At Latitude: -20.1907, Longitude: -47.4468, the ideal angle to tilt panels is 19° North
Seasonally adjusted solar panel tilt angles for Pedregulho, 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 Pedregulho, Brazil. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 19° North tilt angle throughout the year.
Overall Best Summer Angle
Overall Best Autumn Angle
Overall Best Winter Angle
Overall Best Spring Angle
4° North in Summer
26° North in Autumn
36° North in Winter
14° North in Spring
Assuming you can modify the tilt angle of your solar PV panels throughout the year, you can optimize your solar generation in Pedregulho, Brazil as follows: In Summer, set the angle of your panels to 4° facing North. In Autumn, tilt panels to 26° facing North for maximum generation. During Winter, adjust your solar panels to a 36° angle towards the North for optimal energy production. Lastly, in Spring, position your panels at a 14° angle facing North to capture the most solar energy in Pedregulho, Brazil.
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 Pedregulho, 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 Pedregulho, Brazil.
Our calculation method
Solar Position: We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination.
Shadow Projection: We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle.
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.
Please enter information above to calculate panel spacing.
Topography for solar PV around Pedregulho, Brazil
The topography around Pedregulho, situated in the northeastern part of São Paulo state in Brazil, is characterized by its undulating terrain and notable elevation changes. This municipality sits on the edge of what is known as the Planalto Central (Central Plateau) of Brazil, with elevations generally ranging between 900 and 1,100 meters above sea level. The landscape features a mix of rolling hills, plateaus, and valleys carved by the numerous waterways that cross the region.
Prominent Topographical Features
Pedregulho's terrain is marked by the Serra da Canastra mountain range influence, which extends into this region. The area contains significant variations in elevation, with some hills rising prominently above the surrounding countryside. These topographical features create a diverse landscape with slopes of varying gradients throughout the municipality.
The region is drained by several rivers, most notably the Grande River, which forms part of the border between São Paulo and Minas Gerais states. This river and its tributaries have shaped the landscape over millennia, creating valleys and natural boundaries throughout the area. The waterways have carved channels through the terrain, resulting in some steeper slopes near riverbanks and more gradual inclines across the broader landscape.
Soil and Surface Characteristics
The soil composition around Pedregulho tends toward lateritic soils typical of the Brazilian cerrado (savanna) region. These soils often have a reddish coloration due to their high iron oxide content. The surface terrain frequently includes rocky outcroppings, especially in higher elevation areas, which gives Pedregulho its name – derived from "pedregulho" meaning gravel or rocky ground in Portuguese.
Vegetation transitions between cerrado (savanna) and Atlantic Forest remnants, with more open areas on plateaus and denser vegetation in valleys and along waterways. This vegetation pattern generally follows the topographical contours of the land.
Areas Suitable for Solar PV Development
For large-scale solar photovoltaic installations, the most suitable areas near Pedregulho would be the relatively flat plateaus and gently sloping hillsides that face northward (in the Southern Hemisphere, north-facing slopes receive more direct sunlight throughout the year). Several characteristics make certain zones more appropriate than others:
The elevated plateaus to the south and southeast of Pedregulho's urban center offer excellent potential for solar development. These areas combine favorable topography with good solar exposure, minimal shading concerns, and relatively stable ground conditions. Their higher elevation also tends to experience less fog and atmospheric interference.
The gently rolling terrain extending northeast toward the São Paulo-Minas Gerais border presents another promising region. These areas feature gradual slopes that could accommodate large solar arrays without requiring excessive grading or terrain modification. The natural contours of this land would allow for efficient arrangement of solar panels while minimizing earthwork costs.
Areas to avoid would include the steeper valleys carved by the Grande River and its tributaries, particularly in the northern sections of the municipality. These zones present challenges related to slope stability, potential shading from surrounding hills, and more complex construction requirements that would increase development costs.
The western portions of the municipality, which feature more varied terrain with frequent changes in elevation, would generally be less suitable for large-scale installations than the more consistent plateaus to the east and southeast. However, these areas might still accommodate smaller, distributed solar projects adapted to the local topography.
When considering specific sites, developers would need to balance the topographical advantages with other factors like proximity to transmission infrastructure, which is relatively well-developed in this region due to nearby hydroelectric developments on the Grande River system.
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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Article: Solar PV Analysis of Pedregulho, Brazil Author: Aaron Robinson Publisher: profileSOLAR.com First Published: Saturday 28th of June 2025 Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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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.
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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.
