Changzhi, Shanxi, China, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a moderately favorable environment for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. The city experiences distinct seasonal variations in solar electricity production that are worth considering for potential solar installations.

Seasonal Solar Production

Solar panels in Changzhi perform best during Spring and Summer, producing 5.34kWh and 5.31kWh per day per installed kilowatt, respectively. The production drops significantly during Autumn (3.42kWh/day) and Winter (3.25kWh/day), when the sun's path is lower in the sky and days are shorter. This creates a noticeable seasonal pattern where energy production nearly doubles during the warmer months compared to the cooler seasons.

For maximum efficiency, solar panels at this location should be installed at a 33-degree tilt facing South. This specific angle has been calculated to optimize year-round solar capture based on Changzhi's geographical position and seasonal solar paths.

Environmental Challenges

Several environmental factors in Changzhi may impact solar production efficiency. The region experiences seasonal air pollution, particularly during winter months when coal burning for heating increases. This air pollution can significantly reduce solar radiation reaching panels and decrease efficiency by 10-25% during heavy pollution events.

Additionally, Changzhi is located in a region that experiences dust storms in spring, primarily from March to May. These dust events can temporarily coat panels with a layer of fine particulate matter, reducing light transmission.

Preventative Measures

To maximize solar production despite these challenges, several preventative measures can be implemented:

• Install automated cleaning systems or schedule regular manual cleaning, particularly after dust storms
• Consider slightly oversizing the system to compensate for seasonal production drops
• Use anti-soiling glass coatings on panels to reduce dust adhesion
• Implement a monitoring system to detect unexpected drops in performance
• Consider microinverters or power optimizers to minimize the impact of partial shading

With proper installation at the optimal 33-degree South-facing angle and appropriate maintenance measures, Changzhi provides a reasonably good location for solar PV systems despite its seasonal challenges. The excellent spring and summer production helps offset the reduced winter output, creating a viable year-round solar generation profile.

Note: The Northern Temperate Zone extends from 35° latitude North up to 66.5° latitude.

So far, we have conducted calculations to evaluate the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in 319 locations across China. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.

Link: Solar PV potential in China by location

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

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 36.1839, Longitude: 113.1053 (Changzhi, China), 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 33° South in Changzhi, China

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Changzhi, China (Lat/Long 36.1839, 113.1053) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 33° 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 Changzhi, China

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 Changzhi, China. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 33° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
20° South in Summer	41° South in Autumn	51° South in Winter	28° 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 Changzhi, China

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 Changzhi, China.

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 Changzhi, China

The topography around Changzhi, China features diverse terrain characterized by mountains, valleys, and plateaus. Located in southeastern Shanxi Province, Changzhi sits in a basin surrounded by mountain ranges, creating a distinctive landscape that influences its climate and potential for renewable energy development.

Mountain Ranges and Elevations

Changzhi is nestled within the Taihang Mountains to the east and the Lüliang Mountains to the west. These mountain ranges form part of the larger Loess Plateau region, with elevations varying significantly throughout the area. The city itself sits at approximately 1,000 meters above sea level, while surrounding peaks reach considerably higher elevations. This mountainous topography creates numerous slopes with varying aspects and inclinations. The landscape exhibits the characteristic yellow-brown loess soil common throughout this region of China, which has been shaped by centuries of wind-deposited silt. This has resulted in deeply cut valleys, ravines, and terraced hillsides that define much of the surrounding countryside.

Valleys and Flatlands

Between the mountain ranges lie several valleys and basin areas where most of the population centers and agricultural activities are concentrated. The Changzhi Basin itself represents one of these relatively flat areas surrounded by higher terrain. These valleys typically have better transportation access and infrastructure development compared to the more rugged mountain areas. Rivers, including tributaries of the Yellow River system, have carved pathways through the landscape, creating additional topographical features. These waterways have historically been important for agriculture but have also contributed to soil erosion in certain areas.

Solar PV Potential Areas

For large-scale solar photovoltaic development, several topographical factors must be considered. The most suitable areas around Changzhi would include: The southern and southwestern facing slopes of the mountains surrounding Changzhi offer promising locations for solar installations. These areas receive significant solar radiation throughout the year due to their favorable orientation. The elevated terrain also experiences less atmospheric interference and fewer shadows from nearby peaks, depending on specific positioning. The flatter basin areas to the south of Changzhi city present opportunities for extensive solar farms. These locations combine relatively level terrain (reducing construction costs) with good solar exposure. The reduced vegetation in some of these areas means less land clearing would be required for development. Several plateau areas at higher elevations surrounding Changzhi also demonstrate strong potential for solar development. These locations benefit from thinner atmosphere at higher elevations, which allows for more direct solar radiation to reach panels. Additionally, some of these areas have sparse vegetation and limited agricultural value, making them appropriate for alternative land use.

Topographical Challenges

Despite these promising areas, the topography around Changzhi does present certain challenges for solar development. The deeply cut valleys can create shadow effects during parts of the day, potentially reducing efficiency in some locations. Additionally, the loess soil, while generally stable when undisturbed, can be prone to erosion once vegetation is removed, requiring careful site preparation and maintenance. Access to some of the most solar-favorable locations may also be complicated by the rugged terrain, necessitating additional infrastructure development to support construction and maintenance of solar installations. The varied elevations also create microclimates with different patterns of cloud cover and precipitation that would need to be accounted for in site selection. The mountainous terrain means that large, continuous flat areas are limited, potentially requiring solar developments to be distributed across multiple smaller sites rather than concentrated in a few massive installations. However, this distributed approach might ultimately prove beneficial for grid integration and resilience.

China solar PV Stats as a country

China ranks 1st in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 306,973 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 6.20% of China's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 13th in the world). Each year China is generating 217 Watts from solar PV per capita (China ranks 24th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]

Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in China?

Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in China. These include subsidies from the Chinese government, preferential tax policies, and access to low-interest loans. Additionally, businesses may be eligible for renewable energy certificates (RECs) which can be sold on the open market for additional income.

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