Terenos, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil presents a generally favorable location for year-round solar PV energy generation, with its tropical positioning providing consistent sunlight availability throughout most of the year.

Solar Energy Production Performance

The solar energy output data shows strong performance across all seasons, with summer delivering the highest production at 6.83 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. Spring follows closely at 6.29 kWh/day, while autumn produces 5.69 kWh/day. Winter shows the lowest output at 4.69 kWh/day, though this still represents reasonable production levels for solar installations. The optimal times for solar generation at this location are clearly during summer and spring months, when the combination of sun angle and weather conditions maximize energy output. Even during the winter months, the location maintains decent solar production, making it suitable for year-round solar energy systems. For fixed panel installations at Terenos, Mato Grosso do Sul, the ideal tilt angle is 19 degrees facing North to maximize total annual solar production. This angle has been calculated to optimize energy capture across all seasons by accounting for the sun's varying position throughout the year and weighting for actual solar irradiance conditions.

Environmental and Weather Factors

Several local factors could potentially impact solar production at this location:

• Heavy rainfall during wet seasons can reduce solar irradiance and create cloud cover that temporarily decreases energy output
• High humidity levels typical of tropical climates may contribute to faster accumulation of dust, dirt, and organic matter on solar panels
• Intense tropical storms or severe weather events could pose risks to solar installations
• The tropical environment may accelerate degradation of certain solar panel components due to heat and moisture exposure

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

To maximize energy production and system longevity in Terenos, Mato Grosso do Sul, several installation strategies should be considered: Regular cleaning schedules become more critical in tropical environments. Installing automated cleaning systems or establishing frequent manual cleaning routines will help maintain panel efficiency by removing accumulated debris, dust, and organic matter that can significantly reduce energy output. Proper drainage and ventilation design around solar installations helps prevent water accumulation and allows adequate airflow to cool panels, improving their efficiency. Mounting systems should be designed to withstand tropical weather conditions and allow for thermal expansion. Selecting solar panels and electrical components specifically rated for tropical climates ensures better long-term performance. These components are designed to handle higher temperatures, humidity, and UV exposure common in tropical locations. Installing monitoring systems allows for quick identification of performance issues, enabling prompt maintenance responses that keep the system operating at optimal levels throughout the year.

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 Terenos

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -20.4207, Longitude: -55.106 (Terenos, 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 19° North in Terenos, Brazil

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Terenos, Brazil (Lat/Long -20.4207, -55.106) 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.

Seasonally adjusted solar panel tilt angles for Terenos, 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 Terenos, 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
5° North in Summer	26° North in Autumn	36° North in Winter	14° 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 Terenos, 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 Terenos, 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 Terenos, Brazil

Topographical Features of the Terenos Region

The area surrounding Terenos in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, is characterized by predominantly flat to gently rolling terrain that forms part of the vast Pantanal wetland system and its surrounding uplands. This region sits within the Paraguay River basin, where the landscape transitions between the elevated cerrado savanna and the lower-lying wetland areas. The topography consists mainly of broad, open plains with subtle elevation changes that rarely exceed 200 meters in relief across the immediate vicinity.

The terrain features extensive grasslands and scattered woodland areas typical of the cerrado biome, with occasional small hills and ridges that provide modest elevation variations. These gentle undulations in the landscape are interspersed with seasonal wetland areas and drainage channels that become more prominent during the wet season. The overall flatness of the region makes it part of one of South America's most expansive low-relief areas.

Drainage and Water Features

The local hydrology is dominated by tributaries of the Paraguay River system, with numerous small streams and seasonal waterways threading through the landscape. During the wet season, many low-lying areas become temporarily inundated, creating a mosaic of dry land and shallow wetlands. The Miranda River flows to the west of Terenos, while various smaller watercourses drain the surrounding plains in a generally westward direction toward the main Pantanal depression.

These water features create important considerations for land use, as flood-prone areas experience seasonal variations in accessibility and ground conditions. The drainage patterns have carved subtle valleys and depressions into the otherwise flat terrain, creating a gently undulating landscape with good natural drainage in the elevated areas.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for extensive solar photovoltaic installations in the Terenos region would be the elevated plains and gentle ridges that remain above the seasonal flood zones. These areas offer several key advantages including stable, well-drained ground conditions throughout the year and minimal topographical obstacles that would require expensive grading or earthwork preparation.

The broad, open grassland areas on the higher ground provide ideal conditions for large solar arrays, with minimal vegetation clearing required and excellent accessibility for construction and maintenance activities. These elevated plains typically feature consistent gentle slopes that facilitate natural drainage while avoiding the steeper terrain that might create shading issues between panel rows.

Areas to the east and northeast of Terenos appear particularly promising, where the terrain rises slightly above the wetland influence zones while maintaining the flat to gently rolling character ideal for solar development. These locations offer extensive contiguous areas of suitable land without the fragmentation caused by waterways, seasonal wetlands, or significant topographical barriers.

The region's minimal tree cover in many areas reduces the need for extensive clearing operations, while the stable soil conditions on the elevated plains provide good foundation potential for mounting systems. The open landscape also ensures excellent access to existing transportation infrastructure, which is crucial for the logistics of large-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!

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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.