Solar PV Analysis of Salvador, Brazil
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, located near the equator with consistent sunlight throughout most of the year, is a good location for generating energy through solar panels. This is because solar panels work best when they get lots of sunlight. In Salvador, Bahia, you can expect to generate around 6.18 kilowatt-hours per day in the summer for each kilowatt of solar power installed. This number drops slightly in autumn and spring to 5.62 and 5.98 kilowatt-hours per day respectively, and further drops to 4.55 kilowatt-hours per day in winter.
Even though there's less sunlight during winter compared to other seasons, it's still enough to generate a decent amount of energy from your solar panels year-round.
To get the most out of your solar panels in Salvador, Bahia, you should tilt them at an angle of 12 degrees towards the north. This position will allow them to catch as much sunlight as possible throughout the year.
As far as environmental factors that might affect how much energy you can generate from your solar panels in Salvador are concerned:
The city has a tropical rainforest climate which means it experiences heavy rainfall especially during wet seasons which could potentially decrease production due its cloud cover reducing sunshine hours available for PV generation; however this would not be significant enough over a whole year period (given dry vs wet season duration) to make this location non-viable for PV installation - quite contrary actually given high kWh outputs across all four seasons here.
Also note that local buildings or trees could potentially block some sunlight reaching your panels if they're taller than them or if their shadows fall on them during certain times of day/year - therefore when installing ensure no such obstructions exist now (or will grow later like trees) within vicinity where these shadows could fall on your panel surface area.
In conclusion: Salvador is an excellent place for installing and using solar power systems effectively due its consistent sunshine availability. To ensure maximum efficiency, install panels at a 12 degrees north tilt and avoid any local obstructions that might block sunlight.
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 Salvador
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -12.8671, Longitude: -38.4807 (Salvador, 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 12° North in Salvador, Brazil
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Salvador, Brazil (Lat/Long -12.8671, -38.4807) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 12° 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 Salvador, 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 Salvador, Brazil. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 12° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3° South in Summer | 19° North in Autumn | 28° North in Winter | 7° 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 Salvador, 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 Salvador, 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.
Topography for solar PV around Salvador, Brazil
Salvador, Brazil is located on the northeastern coast of the country. The topography around Salvador is diverse, with coastal plains to the east and mountainous regions to the west. The city itself is built on a series of rolling hills and lowlands.
The coastal areas are flat and open, which makes them potentially suitable for large-scale solar PV installations. However, these areas may also face challenges related to land use conflicts (such as tourism or conservation) and potential impacts from sea level rise or storm surge.
The interior regions west of Salvador are characterized by higher elevations with rolling hills and mountains. While these areas may have more land available for solar PV installations, they might also pose challenges related to construction costs due to uneven terrain.
Given its tropical location near the equator, Salvador has high solar irradiance year-round which could be beneficial for solar energy production. Nevertheless, other factors such as local climate (cloud cover, precipitation), infrastructure (accessibility to transmission lines), social acceptance and economic feasibility should also be considered when assessing suitability for large-scale solar PV projects.
Another potential area for large scale PV installation could be unused industrial spaces within urban settings in Salvador itself – such as rooftops or parking lots.
In terms of specific locations around Salvador that might be most suitable for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems - this would require a more detailed study incorporating various geographical data layers including topography maps, land use/land cover maps etc., along with site-specific assessments considering technical feasibility & economic viability aspects.
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 Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Monday 1st of January 2024
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.
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.
