Solar PV Analysis of Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
The location of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic is pretty good for generating solar energy all year round. This is because it's located in the Tropics where sunlight is quite consistent throughout most of the year. The amount of electricity that can be produced from each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar panels varies a bit with the seasons but it's still relatively high compared to many other places.
In Summer and Spring, you can expect around 6.60 and 6.67 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day respectively from each kW of installed solar panels which are very good numbers. In Autumn and Winter, the output drops slightly to around 5.74 and 5.10 kWh/day respectively but these are still decent figures.
For fixed panel installations at this location, tilting them at an angle of about 18 degrees towards South would help maximize total yearly production from your solar photovoltaic (PV) system.
However, there could be some local factors that might affect solar production here such as periods with heavy rainfall or hurricanes which are common in tropical areas like this one during certain times of the year especially between June to November - these weather conditions could reduce sunlight exposure on your panels and thus their energy output.
To mitigate against these potential issues when installing your PV system, you should ensure that your panels are securely mounted so they can withstand strong winds during hurricane season; consider using materials resistant to corrosion due to potentially high humidity levels; regularly clean off any debris or dirt accumulation on the panel surfaces as this could block sunlight; finally have a reliable backup power source in place for times when sunlight availability may not be sufficient due to prolonged bad weather conditions.
Overall though, Santiago de los Caballeros offers a great environment for harnessing solar energy thanks largely to its plentiful sunshine almost all-year-round!
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 27 locations across Dominican Republic. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Dominican Republic by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Santiago De Los Caballeros
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 19.4478, Longitude: -70.7044 (Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic), 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 18° South in Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic (Lat/Long 19.4478, -70.7044) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 18° 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 Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
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 Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 18° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3° South in Summer | 25° South in Autumn | 35° South in Winter | 13° 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 Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
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 Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
Our calculation method
- Solar Position:
We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination. - Shadow Projection:
We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle. - 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 Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
Santiago de los Caballeros, located in the northern region of the Dominican Republic, is surrounded by mountains. It sits in the Cibao Valley, which is a fertile plain used for agriculture. The city itself is relatively flat but it's surrounded by mountainous terrain including Cordillera Septentrional to the north and Cordillera Central to the south.
In terms of solar PV potential, areas with flat terrain and high sunlight exposure would be most suitable. The Cibao Valley surrounding Santiago could potentially provide such conditions. However, detailed assessment would need to consider factors like local weather patterns (cloud cover), soil stability for installation of panels, access to infrastructure for power transmission and any land use conflicts (e.g., agricultural activities).
It's also worth noting that rooftop solar PV installations can be a good option in urban environments like Santiago de los Caballeros itself – this approach has been increasingly adopted around the world as it doesn't require additional land resources.
Any large-scale project should conduct a thorough feasibility study considering not only topography but also other environmental factors and socio-economic implications before deciding on an exact location.
Dominican Republic solar PV Stats as a country
Dominican Republic ranks 49th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 490 total MW's of solar PV installed. Each year Dominican Republic is generating 45 Watts from solar PV per capita (Dominican Republic ranks 53rd in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Dominican Republic?
Yes, there are incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in the Dominican Republic. The government offers a range of incentives including tax credits, grants and loans to encourage businesses to invest in renewable energy sources such as solar power. Additionally, the Dominican Republic has implemented a net metering system which allows businesses to sell excess electricity generated from their solar systems back into the grid at retail rates.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Dominican Republic? Please reach out to us and help us keep this information current. Thanks!
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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Wednesday 1st of May 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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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.
