Solar PV Analysis of Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic
The location at Santo Domingo Este in the Dominican Republic is quite good for generating electricity through solar power throughout the year. This is due to its tropical location, where sunlight is fairly consistent most of the year. The amount of electricity that can be generated varies slightly with each season, but it remains relatively high all year round.
In terms of numbers, for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed in this location, you could expect to generate around 6.45 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in summer, 5.99 kWh/day in autumn, 5.51 kWh/day in winter and 6.95 kWh/day in spring.
Spring seems to be the best time of year for solar energy generation at this location because it has the highest daily output per kW installed.
For those installing fixed panel solar installations at this location, tilting your panels at an angle of 17 degrees towards the south would give you maximum production throughout the year.
However, there are certain factors that could affect your ability to generate solar energy here:
1) The Dominican Republic experiences a seasonal cycle with wet and dry seasons which can impact sunlight availability.
2) Local weather conditions such as cloud cover or storms may also reduce sunlight exposure on some days.
3) Topography could play a role too - if there are hills or buildings casting shadows over your panels they won't work as well.
4) Environmental factors like dust or bird droppings on your panels can decrease their efficiency too.
To deal with these issues:
1) Regularly clean and maintain your panels - especially after bad weather or during dusty periods.
2) Consider using tracking systems that follow the sun's path across the sky if shadows from nearby structures are a problem.
3) You may also want to consider investing in battery storage so you can store excess power generated during sunny periods and use it when sunshine is less abundant such as during the wet season or cloudy days.
In summary, Santo Domingo Este is a pretty good location for solar energy generation, but you'll need to take into account local weather, environmental and topographical conditions to get the most out of your solar panels.
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 Santo Domingo Este
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 18.492, Longitude: -69.8701 (Santo Domingo Este, 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 17° South in Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic (Lat/Long 18.492, -69.8701) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 17° 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 Santo Domingo Este, 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 Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 17° 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 | 24° South in Autumn | 34° South in Winter | 12° 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 Santo Domingo Este, 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 Santo Domingo Este, 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 Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo Este, the Dominican Republic is located on the southeastern coast of the island. The topography of this area is relatively flat with a few low-lying hills. It's close to the Caribbean Sea, and there are several rivers in and around the city including Ozama River.
As for solar PV installations, flat areas are generally more suitable as it's easier to install solar panels on level ground. Therefore, Santo Domingo Este itself could be a good location given its relatively flat terrain. Additionally, areas near Santo Domingo Este that have less cloud cover and more sunlight would be ideal locations for large-scale solar PV installations.
However, an important factor to consider when choosing a location for large-scale solar PV installation is not just topography but also land use. Areas that are not heavily forested or used for agriculture would be more suitable as they wouldn't require deforestation or displacement of food production.
Also worth considering is proximity to existing power grids for ease of connecting the generated power into the system; unless there's plan to include storage systems or use locally.
Ultimately an in-depth feasibility study which includes aspects like local climate (solar irradiation levels), land availability and cost, environmental impact assessment among others would give a better insight into most suitable areas nearby.
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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Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Sunday 17th of March 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.
