Kampraeus, Tboung Khmum, Cambodia offers good conditions for year-round solar energy generation, with consistent electricity output throughout all seasons. Located in the tropical zone at coordinates 12.0947°N, 105.9502°E, this area benefits from relatively stable solar production that varies moderately between seasons.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at Kampraeus shows favorable generation potential across all four meteorological seasons. Spring delivers the highest production at 6.15 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, followed closely by summer at 6.11 kWh per day. Winter maintains solid performance at 5.70 kWh per day, while autumn shows the lowest output at 5.07 kWh per day per kW installed. For optimal year-round performance, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 11 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual energy production by accounting for the sun's varying position throughout the year and weighting the optimal daily angles by solar irradiance data.

Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several local factors in Kampraeus could significantly impact solar panel performance and require careful consideration during installation planning. The tropical climate brings intense monsoon seasons with heavy rainfall, high humidity, and potential flooding. These conditions can reduce solar output through cloud cover and may damage equipment if proper drainage and waterproofing measures aren't implemented. Additionally, the high humidity environment accelerates corrosion of metal components and electrical connections. Dust accumulation presents another challenge, particularly during dry seasons when fine particles settle on panel surfaces and reduce light transmission. The tropical environment also supports rapid vegetation growth, which can create shading issues if not properly managed through regular maintenance.

Preventative Installation Measures

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

• Install panels with adequate ground clearance and proper drainage systems to prevent flood damage
• Use marine-grade or tropical-rated electrical components and connections to resist humidity and corrosion
• Apply anti-corrosion coatings to mounting hardware and regularly inspect all metal components
• Design cleaning access and implement regular panel washing schedules to remove dust buildup
• Maintain clear vegetation zones around installations and conduct periodic trimming of nearby plants

These preventative measures help ensure that solar installations in Kampraeus can achieve their full energy production potential throughout the year, making the location quite suitable for solar PV systems despite the tropical environmental challenges.

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 7 locations across Cambodia. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.

Link: Solar PV potential in Cambodia by location

Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Kampraeus

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 12.0947, Longitude: 105.9502 (Kampraeus, Cambodia), 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 11° South in Kampraeus, Cambodia

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Kampraeus, Cambodia (Lat/Long 12.0947, 105.9502) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 11° South 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 Kampraeus, Cambodia

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 Kampraeus, Cambodia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 11° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
4° North in Summer	18° South in Autumn	28° South in Winter	6° 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 Kampraeus, Cambodia

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 Kampraeus, Cambodia.

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 Kampraeus, Cambodia

Topographical Features Around Kampraeus

The terrain surrounding Kampraeus in Cambodia is characterized by relatively flat to gently rolling lowlands that form part of the expansive Mekong River basin. This region sits within the broader Cambodian plain, where elevations typically remain modest and the landscape exhibits minimal dramatic elevation changes. The area benefits from well-drained soils and gentle gradients that have historically supported agricultural activities. Local topography includes scattered low hills and undulating countryside interspersed with flat agricultural plains. The drainage patterns in this region flow generally toward the Mekong River system, creating natural depressions and slightly elevated areas that provide subtle variation in the otherwise relatively uniform landscape. Small waterways and seasonal streams traverse the area, contributing to the gentle contours of the land.

Vegetation and Land Use Patterns

The surrounding landscape predominantly features agricultural land use, with rice paddies, crop fields, and rural settlements distributed across the terrain. Areas of secondary forest growth and scattered tree cover exist alongside cleared agricultural zones. The vegetation patterns reflect both natural drainage characteristics and human modification of the landscape over generations of farming activity. Rural roads and pathways connect small communities throughout the region, following the natural contours of the land and avoiding areas prone to seasonal flooding. The existing infrastructure demonstrates how local topography influences settlement patterns and transportation networks.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations would be the elevated, well-drained areas that remain above seasonal flood levels while maintaining relatively flat profiles. These slightly elevated plains offer stable ground conditions and minimal shading from topographical features, making them ideal for solar array deployment. Areas with gentle south-facing slopes would provide particularly favorable conditions, as these orientations maximize solar exposure throughout the day. The rolling countryside northeast and southwest of Kampraeus contains several such locations where the terrain rises gradually from surrounding lowlands while maintaining accessibility for construction and maintenance activities. Former agricultural areas on stable, elevated ground present excellent opportunities for solar development, particularly where the soil conditions provide good drainage and the topography allows for efficient panel arrangement. These locations typically feature minimal tree cover and existing access routes that could support large-scale infrastructure development. The key consideration for site selection involves avoiding low-lying areas subject to seasonal water accumulation while identifying zones with sufficient flat or gently sloping terrain to accommodate extensive solar arrays. The natural drainage patterns help identify these optimal elevated areas that remain dry year-round while offering the expansive, unobstructed terrain necessary for utility-scale solar installations.

Cambodia solar PV Stats as a country

Cambodia ranks 57th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 428 total MW's of solar PV installed. Each year Cambodia is generating 26 Watts from solar PV per capita (Cambodia ranks 62nd in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]

Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Cambodia?

Yes, there are incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Cambodia. The Cambodian government has implemented a number of policies and programs to promote the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power. These include tax exemptions, subsidies, and other financial incentives for businesses that invest in solar energy projects. Additionally, the government has established a Renewable Energy Fund which provides grants and loans to support renewable energy projects.

Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Cambodia? 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.