Urubici, Brazil presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar PV energy generation, though with notable seasonal variations that potential solar installers should carefully consider.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this Southern Sub Tropics location shows significant seasonal fluctuation. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 6.09 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it the ideal time for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.14 kWh per day per kW, while autumn drops to 4.46 kWh per day per kW. Winter presents the most challenging period, producing only 3.37 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity. This seasonal pattern reflects the Southern Hemisphere's solar cycle, where the summer months of December through February offer optimal conditions, while the winter months of June through August present the lowest energy production potential.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For fixed panel installations at Urubici, the ideal tilt angle is 25 degrees facing North to maximize total year-round solar production. This angle has been calculated using weighted daily solar elevation angles and NASA solar irradiance data to account for Earth's elliptical orbit and seasonal variations.

Environmental and Weather Factors

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

• High altitude cloud formation and fog, common in mountainous regions of Santa Catarina
• Seasonal rainfall patterns that may reduce solar irradiance during certain periods
• Potential for frost and ice formation on panels during winter months
• Strong winds that could affect panel stability and orientation

Preventative Measures for Installation

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

• Install panels with adequate drainage systems to prevent water accumulation
• Use mounting systems designed to withstand high wind loads common in elevated areas
• Consider anti-reflective coatings that perform better in diffused light conditions
• Ensure proper panel spacing to minimize shading during low-angle winter sun
• Install monitoring systems to track performance and identify weather-related efficiency losses

Regular maintenance becomes particularly important in this environment, including periodic cleaning to remove accumulated moisture, debris, or frost that could reduce panel efficiency during the already challenging winter months.

Note: The Southern Sub Tropics extend from -23.5° latitude South down to -35° latitude.

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 Urubici

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -28.049, Longitude: -49.5764 (Urubici, 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 25° North in Urubici, Brazil

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Urubici, Brazil (Lat/Long -28.049, -49.5764) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 25° 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 Urubici, 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 Urubici, Brazil. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 25° North tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
12° North in Summer	34° North in Autumn	43° North in Winter	21° 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 Urubici, 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 Urubici, 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 Urubici, Brazil

Topographical Features of the Urubici Region

Urubici sits in the heart of Santa Catarina's mountainous terrain, positioned within the Serra Geral mountain range at an elevation of approximately 915 meters above sea level. This highland location places the town among some of Brazil's most dramatic topographical features, characterized by rolling hills, steep escarpments, and expansive plateau areas that stretch across the landscape.

The surrounding terrain exhibits significant variation in elevation, with nearby peaks reaching well over 1,400 meters, making this one of the highest regions in southern Brazil. The landscape is dominated by grasslands known as campos de altitude, interspersed with Araucaria pine forests that thrive in the cooler mountain climate. Deep valleys carved by ancient geological processes create a complex network of ridges and depressions throughout the area.

Rock formations in the region consist primarily of sandstone and basalt, creating both stable foundations and areas of exposed bedrock. The climate at this elevation tends to be cooler and more temperate than the coastal regions, with the higher altitude contributing to clearer atmospheric conditions and reduced haze.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The elevated plateaus surrounding Urubici present excellent opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The relatively flat highland areas, particularly those extending northeast and southwest of the town, offer extensive tracts of land with minimal slope variation. These plateau regions provide the stable, level terrain necessary for efficient solar panel deployment while maintaining good drainage characteristics.

Areas with southern and southeastern exposures along the gentler slopes of the Serra Geral would be particularly well-suited for solar development. The reduced vegetation density on many of these highland areas means fewer obstacles for installation and maintenance access. The elevated position provides natural advantages in terms of atmospheric clarity and reduced local weather interference.

The grassland areas known as campos rupestres, found on the flatter portions of the highlands, represent prime candidates for solar farm development. These natural clearings require minimal vegetation removal and often feature relatively uniform terrain that simplifies installation logistics. The rocky substrate in many of these areas provides excellent stability for mounting systems.

Transportation infrastructure accessibility should also be considered, with areas closer to existing rural roads and the BR-282 highway corridor offering practical advantages for construction and ongoing maintenance operations. The elevated terrain throughout much of the region ensures that most potential sites would have minimal shading issues from surrounding topographical features.

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.