Solar PV Analysis of Santo Domingo Oeste, Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo Oeste, Santo Domingo Province, Dominican Republic is a good location for solar energy production throughout the year due to its tropical climate. The amount of sunlight it receives is fairly consistent all year round, which means that solar panels can generate electricity consistently as well.
The expected electricity output per kilowatt (kW) of installed solar varies slightly with the seasons: 6.61 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in Summer, 5.94 kWh/day in Autumn, 5.47 kWh/day in Winter and 6.89 kWh/day in Spring.
To maximize total year-round production from solar PV at this location, it's best to tilt the panels at an angle of 17 degrees South if you're installing fixed panels.
However, there might be some local factors that could affect the efficiency of solar energy production here:
1) Weather conditions: As Santo Domingo Oeste is located in a tropical region where wet and dry seasons are common rather than traditional four-season climates; heavy rainfalls during wet season may reduce sunlight exposure on some days.
2) Environmental factors: Dust or other airborne particles can settle on the surface of solar panels and reduce their efficiency by blocking sunlight.
Preventative measures include regular cleaning and maintenance of your solar panel system to remove any dust or debris that may have settled on them will ensure they continue to operate efficiently.
In conclusion, Santo Domingo Oeste offers favourable conditions for generating consistent amounts of electricity from a fixed-panel photovoltaic system throughout most parts of the year given its tropical climate and high sun exposure levels.
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 Oeste
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 18.4671, Longitude: -70.0132 (Santo Domingo Oeste, 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 Oeste, Dominican Republic
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Santo Domingo Oeste, Dominican Republic (Lat/Long 18.4671, -70.0132) 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 Oeste, 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 Oeste, 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 Oeste, 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 Oeste, 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 Oeste, Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo Oeste is located in the southern part of the Dominican Republic, near the coast. The topography is relatively flat with some hilly areas, especially towards the north and east. The area has a tropical climate with high temperatures year-round, and it experiences a rainy season from May to November.
Solar PV installations require large areas of flat or gently sloping land that receive plenty of sunlight throughout the year. They also need to be close to electrical grids for power transmission.
Given these requirements, several types of locations around Santo Domingo Oeste may be suitable for largescale solar PV:
1) Flat coastal areas: These regions get ample sunlight and are generally less developed than urban centers like Santo Domingo city itself. However, care must be taken not to disrupt sensitive coastal ecosystems.
2) Agricultural lands: Farmers can potentially earn extra income by leasing their lands for solar installations. Dual-use systems even allow farming activities to continue underneath raised solar panels.
3) Unused industrial lands: These often have good access to existing power infrastructure and are less likely to face opposition from local communities compared with installing on undeveloped natural or agricultural lands.
4) Rooftops in urban areas: While not appropriate for "large-scale" projects per se, rooftop installations can collectively generate significant amounts of electricity while taking advantage of existing structures and proximity to consumers.
Before choosing any site though, detailed studies would need to be conducted including measurements of local solar irradiance levels (how much sun shines on an area), analysis of land ownership/rights issues, environmental impact assessments etc.
Lastly but importantly - as Dominican Republic is prone hurricanes during Atlantic hurricane season (June-November), designing resilient systems capable withstand such extreme weather events will also be critical factor when considering suitability for large scale Solar PV installation in this region.
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: Friday 12th of July 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.
