Solar Energy Potential in Vila Boa, Goiás, Brazil

Vila Boa, Goiás, Brazil, located at latitude -14.9788 and longitude -47.0904, offers excellent year-round potential for solar energy generation. This tropical location benefits from consistent sunlight throughout most of the year, making it highly suitable for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The seasonal electricity output shows remarkable consistency across the year. During summer, solar PV systems generate approximately 5.74 kWh per day for each kilowatt installed. This increases slightly in autumn to 5.95 kWh/day, and reaches its peak during winter and spring, both delivering an impressive 6.16 kWh/day per kilowatt installed. Interestingly, winter and spring represent the optimal periods for solar generation in Vila Boa, Goiás, contrary to what might be expected in non-tropical regions. This pattern aligns with the local climate, where seasonal variations are primarily defined by wet and dry periods rather than significant temperature or daylight fluctuations. For maximizing solar energy capture at this location, fixed solar panels should be installed at a 15-degree tilt facing North. This specific angle has been calculated to optimize year-round solar production based on Vila Boa's geographical position, accounting for the Earth's elliptical orbit and the sun's changing position throughout the year.

Environmental Considerations

The primary environmental factor that could impact solar production in Vila Boa is the pronounced wet season, which typically brings increased cloud cover and rainfall. During these periods, solar output may temporarily decrease due to reduced direct sunlight. Dust accumulation represents another potential challenge in this tropical location. The combination of dry periods followed by occasional rain can create a cycle of dust buildup and muddy residue on panel surfaces. To mitigate these factors, several preventative measures are recommended:

• Install panels with a sufficient tilt (the recommended 15 degrees) to promote natural cleaning during rainfall
• Implement a regular cleaning schedule, particularly during transitions between wet and dry seasons
• Consider weather-resistant panel technologies with anti-soiling coatings
• Ensure proper drainage systems around ground-mounted installations to prevent water accumulation during heavy rains

With these considerations addressed, Vila Boa presents a highly favorable location for solar PV installations, with its consistent year-round production and relatively minor seasonal variations making it ideal for reliable renewable 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.

Link: Solar PV potential in Brazil by location

Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Vila Boa

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -14.9788, Longitude: -47.0904 (Vila Boa, 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 15° North in Vila Boa, Brazil

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Vila Boa, Brazil (Lat/Long -14.9788, -47.0904) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 15° 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 Vila Boa, 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 Vila Boa, Brazil. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 15° North tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
1° South in Summer	21° North in Autumn	30° North in Winter	10° 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 Vila Boa, 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 Vila Boa, 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 Vila Boa, Brazil

The region around Vila Boa, located in the state of Goiás in central Brazil, features a diverse topography characteristic of Brazil's Central Plateau (Planalto Central). This area lies within the Cerrado biome, Brazil's vast tropical savanna ecosystem, which shapes much of the landscape's features. The terrain around Vila Boa is characterized by gently rolling hills and plateaus, with elevations generally ranging between 700 and 1,000 meters above sea level. The undulating landscape is intersected by numerous streams and rivers that have carved shallow valleys throughout the region. These waterways are part of the Tocantins-Araguaia river basin, one of Brazil's major hydrographic systems.

Landscape Features

The Cerrado vegetation dominates the landscape, consisting of scattered trees with twisted trunks, shrubs, and extensive grasslands. This vegetation pattern creates an open landscape with relatively few areas of dense forest, except along watercourses where gallery forests form. The soils in this region are typically well-drained but nutrient-poor, often reddish in color due to high iron oxide content. These lateritic soils have developed over ancient geological formations, with some areas featuring exposed rock outcroppings and low escarpments. The topography becomes more varied toward the east of Vila Boa, where the terrain gradually rises toward the Serra Geral do Paranã, a mountain range that forms part of the watershed between the Tocantins and São Francisco river basins.

Solar PV Potential Areas

For large-scale solar photovoltaic development, several nearby areas present favorable conditions based on topographical considerations: The gently sloping plateaus to the west and southwest of Vila Boa offer excellent potential for solar farms. These areas feature relatively flat terrain with minimal shadowing effects and good drainage characteristics. The open nature of the Cerrado vegetation means less clearing would be required for installation. The elevated plains between Vila Boa and Formosa (to the southeast) also present advantageous conditions. These areas have consistent elevation profiles with gradual slopes predominantly facing north—optimal for solar exposure in the southern hemisphere. Areas to avoid include the more dissected terrain near river valleys and the more rugged eastern regions approaching the Serra Geral do Paranã. These locations would require more extensive grading and present challenges for infrastructure development. The relatively stable soil conditions throughout much of the region provide good foundation potential for solar array mounting systems, though careful geotechnical assessment would be necessary as some areas may have expansive clay soils that could affect foundation stability. From a topographical perspective, the most suitable locations would be those combining minimal slope (ideally less than 5%), good drainage characteristics, and north-facing aspects where possible. These conditions are most consistently found in the plateau regions extending west and southwest from Vila Boa for approximately 30-50 kilometers.

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.