Placas, Pará, Brazil represents an excellent location for year-round solar energy generation, positioned in the tropical zone where consistent sunlight availability makes solar photovoltaic systems highly productive throughout all seasons.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows remarkable consistency and strong performance across all meteorological seasons. With coordinates at -3.9772, -54.5242, this area demonstrates the advantages of tropical solar installations.

• Summer: 4.76 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity
• Autumn: 5.23 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity
• Winter: 5.73 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity
• Spring: 5.82 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity

Interestingly, the highest solar production occurs during spring and winter months, when solar panels generate nearly 22% more electricity compared to summer. This pattern is typical for locations near the equator, where the sun's position varies less dramatically throughout the year than in higher latitudes.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For maximum year-round energy production at Placas, Pará, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 5 degrees facing north. This shallow angle takes advantage of the location's proximity to the equator, where the sun travels high overhead throughout most of the year.

Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several local factors in this tropical Brazilian location could potentially impact solar energy production, though most can be effectively managed with proper installation techniques. Humidity and Moisture: The tropical climate brings high humidity levels that can cause corrosion of metal components and electrical connections over time. Installing solar equipment with marine-grade corrosion-resistant materials and ensuring proper ventilation around inverters and electrical components helps prevent moisture-related damage. Heavy Rainfall: Tropical wet seasons can bring intense rainfall that may reduce solar output during storms and create challenges for equipment longevity. However, rain also provides a natural cleaning effect for solar panels. Installing panels with adequate drainage and using waterproof electrical enclosures rated for tropical conditions ensures reliable operation. Vegetation Growth: The favorable growing conditions in tropical climates mean that vegetation can grow rapidly and potentially shade solar installations. Regular maintenance schedules for trimming nearby plants and trees, along with careful initial site selection to avoid areas prone to fast-growing vegetation, helps maintain optimal solar exposure. High Temperatures: While abundant sunshine is beneficial, excessive heat can reduce solar panel efficiency. Installing panels with proper air circulation underneath and using temperature-resistant equipment helps maintain performance during the hottest periods. The consistently strong solar output numbers throughout the year at Placas demonstrate that despite these potential challenges, this location offers excellent conditions for solar energy generation when installations are properly designed and maintained.

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 Placas

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -3.9772, Longitude: -54.5242 (Placas, 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 5° North in Placas, Brazil

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Placas, Brazil (Lat/Long -3.9772, -54.5242) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 5° 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 Placas, 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 Placas, Brazil. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 5° 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	11° North in Autumn	20° 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 Placas, 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 Placas, 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 Placas, Brazil

Topographical Features Around Placas, Brazil

The region surrounding Placas in Pará state lies within the expansive Amazon Basin, characterized by predominantly flat to gently rolling terrain typical of the Brazilian Amazon lowlands. This area sits at a relatively low elevation, generally ranging between 100 to 200 meters above sea level, creating a landscape dominated by vast stretches of relatively uniform topography with minimal elevation changes across large distances. The terrain consists primarily of ancient sedimentary formations that have been weathered over millions of years, resulting in a stable geological foundation with gentle undulations rather than steep slopes or dramatic elevation changes. Small hills and ridges occasionally punctuate the landscape, but these features rarely exceed 50 meters in relative height above the surrounding plains. The area experiences typical tropical lowland conditions with well-drained soils in elevated areas and seasonally flooded zones in lower-lying regions. Numerous small streams and tributaries weave through the landscape, creating a network of waterways that drain toward larger river systems. These watercourses have carved shallow valleys and created natural drainage patterns that influence the local microtopography. Between these drainage channels, broad interfluves provide extensive areas of stable, well-drained land that remain above seasonal flood levels.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations around Placas would be the elevated interfluves and gentle ridge systems that provide stable, well-drained foundations. These areas offer several advantages including consistent elevation above seasonal flooding, minimal slope gradients that reduce installation complexity, and solid geological foundations capable of supporting extensive solar arrays. The broad plateaus and gentle rises scattered throughout the region present ideal conditions for solar development, as they combine accessibility with stability while avoiding the seasonal water fluctuations that affect lower-lying areas. These elevated zones typically feature lateritic soils that provide excellent drainage and structural stability, essential factors for long-term solar installations. Areas with southern-facing gentle slopes would be particularly advantageous, as they can be oriented to maximize solar exposure while maintaining manageable installation grades. The relatively uniform topography across much of the region means that large contiguous areas can be developed without significant grading or earthwork requirements, reducing both installation costs and environmental impact. Transportation access represents another crucial factor in site selection. Areas near existing road networks or where access roads can be constructed with minimal environmental disruption would be preferred. The flat to gently rolling terrain facilitates road construction and maintenance access, making remote areas more viable for development than would be possible in more mountainous regions. The stable geological conditions and minimal seismic activity in this part of the Amazon Basin provide additional advantages for solar installations, as foundations and mounting systems face fewer structural challenges compared to more geologically active regions. This stability, combined with the extensive areas of suitable topography, makes the Placas region well-suited for large-scale solar energy development.

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.