Solar Energy Potential in Sihanoukville, Preah Sihanouk, Cambodia

Sihanoukville, Preah Sihanouk, Cambodia, located at coordinates 10.5992, 103.5234, presents a promising location for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. This coastal city benefits from its tropical climate, which provides relatively consistent sunlight patterns across seasons. The seasonal solar energy production shows interesting variations. Spring offers the highest energy yield with 5.94 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Winter follows closely at 5.73 kWh/day, while summer and autumn produce slightly less at 4.92 kWh/day and 4.85 kWh/day respectively. This seasonal pattern reveals that the dry season (roughly winter and spring) offers better solar generation potential than the wet season (summer and autumn). The difference between the best and worst producing seasons is approximately 1 kWh per day per installed kilowatt, which represents about a 22% variation throughout the year. For fixed solar panel installations in Sihanoukville, Preah Sihanouk, the optimal tilt angle is 11 degrees facing South. This specific angle has been calculated to maximize total year-round production based on the location's latitude and seasonal solar elevation patterns.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several environmental factors could affect solar production in Sihanoukville:

• Monsoon season: The region experiences heavy rainfall during the wet season (May to October), which explains the lower production values during summer and autumn. These rains can temporarily reduce solar output.
• Coastal humidity and salt exposure: Being a coastal city, salt spray and high humidity can accelerate corrosion of solar equipment and potentially create film on panels.
• Tropical storms and typhoons: Though less frequent than in other parts of Southeast Asia, strong storms can damage installations if not properly secured.
• Dust accumulation: During the dry season, dust can build up on panels, particularly in areas with ongoing construction (common in this developing region).

Preventative Measures for Optimal Production

To maximize solar energy production in Sihanoukville, Preah Sihanouk, several preventative measures should be considered: Installing marine-grade components with enhanced corrosion resistance is essential due to the coastal environment. All mounting hardware should be stainless steel or appropriately coated to prevent salt damage. A regular cleaning schedule is particularly important during the dry season when dust accumulation is highest. Automated cleaning systems or scheduled maintenance visits every 1-3 months would help maintain efficiency. For protection against severe weather, robust mounting systems designed to withstand tropical storm-force winds should be employed. Ground-mounted systems may need additional anchoring given the sometimes saturated soils during monsoon season. Finally, slightly increasing the tilt angle beyond the optimal 11 degrees might help with natural cleaning during rain events, though this would come with a small trade-off in overall annual production.

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 Sihanoukville

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 10.5992, Longitude: 103.5234 (Sihanoukville, 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 Sihanoukville, Cambodia

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Sihanoukville, Cambodia (Lat/Long 10.5992, 103.5234) 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 Sihanoukville, 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 Sihanoukville, 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
5° North in Summer	17° South in Autumn	26° South in Winter	5° 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 Sihanoukville, 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 Sihanoukville, 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 Sihanoukville, Cambodia

The terrain surrounding Sihanoukville, Cambodia presents a diverse topographical profile characterized by a blend of coastal plains, rolling hills, and mountainous areas. Situated along the Gulf of Thailand, Sihanoukville itself occupies a peninsula with relatively flat coastal areas that gradually rise into more elevated terrain as one moves inland.

Coastal Plains and Beaches

The immediate vicinity of Sihanoukville features extensive coastal plains with numerous beaches and bays. These lowland areas have minimal elevation, typically rising only a few meters above sea level. The coastline is irregular, forming several protected bays and natural harbors that have contributed to the city's development as Cambodia's principal seaport.

Inland Hills and Valleys

Moving inland from the coast, the landscape transitions to gently rolling hills interspersed with small valleys. These hills generally range from 50 to 200 meters in elevation, creating a moderately undulating terrain. The soil composition in these areas tends to be a mix of sandy loam near the coast, transitioning to more clay-rich soils further inland.

Mountainous Regions

Further inland, particularly to the north and northeast of Sihanoukville, the terrain becomes more significantly elevated with the Elephant Mountains (part of the larger Cardamom Mountain range) dominating the landscape. These mountains can reach elevations of 500-1,000 meters, creating a natural boundary between the coastal region and Cambodia's interior plains.

Vegetation and Land Cover

The natural vegetation around Sihanoukville varies with the topography. Coastal areas feature typical tropical beach vegetation, while the lowland areas support agricultural activities and tropical vegetation. The hillier regions and mountains maintain patches of tropical forests, though significant portions have experienced deforestation over recent decades.

Optimal Areas for Solar PV Development

For large-scale solar photovoltaic installations, the gently rolling hills located 5-15 kilometers inland from Sihanoukville present the most favorable conditions. These areas offer several advantages for solar development: The moderate elevation of these rolling hills (50-150 meters) provides good solar exposure while remaining accessible for construction and maintenance. These areas typically experience less coastal humidity and fog compared to immediate shoreline locations, resulting in clearer atmospheric conditions for solar radiation. Additionally, many of these inland areas have already been partially cleared for agriculture or other development, reducing the environmental impact of new solar installations. The terrain in these zones is stable, with minimal risk of flooding or landslides that could threaten infrastructure. The northeastern corridor extending from Sihanoukville toward Kampot province contains particularly suitable terrain, with expansive areas of gently sloping land that receive consistent solar exposure throughout the year. These locations also benefit from proximity to existing transportation infrastructure, facilitating construction and ongoing maintenance activities. Areas to avoid include the immediate coastal zones (due to higher humidity, salt spray, and potential for extreme weather events) and the steeper mountainous regions (where construction would be challenging and environmental impacts more severe). The ideal solar development zones strike a balance between favorable topography, accessibility, and minimal environmental disruption.

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.