Solar PV Analysis of Aswan, Egypt
Aswān, Egypt, situated at 24.091°N, 32.8942°E, presents a highly favorable location for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. This ancient city, nestled along the Nile River in the northern subtropics, benefits from its proximity to the Tropic of Cancer, ensuring abundant sunlight year-round.
Seasonal Solar Performance
The solar energy output in Aswān demonstrates impressive consistency across seasons. Summer stands out as the peak period, yielding an impressive 8.49 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely behind with 8.26 kWh/day, showcasing the region's excellent solar potential during the warmer months.
Even during the cooler seasons, Aswān maintains strong solar production. Autumn sees a respectable output of 6.43 kWh/day, while winter, despite being the least productive season, still manages a solid 5.51 kWh/day. This relatively small seasonal variation highlights Aswān's reliability for solar energy generation throughout the year.
Optimal Panel Positioning
To maximize year-round solar energy production in Aswān, fixed solar panels should be tilted at a 21-degree angle facing south. This optimal tilt takes into account the city's latitude and the sun's position throughout the year, ensuring the panels capture the maximum amount of sunlight possible across all seasons.
Environmental Considerations
While Aswān boasts excellent conditions for solar energy production, there are a few environmental factors to consider:
- Dust and sand: The desert environment can lead to dust accumulation on solar panels, potentially reducing efficiency.
- High temperatures: Extreme heat during summer months may slightly decrease panel efficiency.
To mitigate these issues, regular cleaning of solar panels is essential to maintain optimal performance. Additionally, installing panels with proper ventilation and using heat-resistant materials can help combat the effects of high temperatures. Despite these minor challenges, Aswān's climate and abundant sunshine make it an ideal location for solar PV energy generation year-round.
Note: The Northern Sub Tropics extend from 23.5° latitude North up to 35° latitude.
So far, we have conducted calculations to evaluate the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in 80 locations across Egypt. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Egypt by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Aswan
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 24.088938, Longitude: 32.8998293 (Aswan, Egypt), 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 21° South in Aswan, Egypt
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Aswan, Egypt (Lat/Long 24.088938, 32.8998293) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 21° 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 Aswan, Egypt
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 Aswan, Egypt. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 21° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8° South in Summer | 29° South in Autumn | 39° South in Winter | 17° 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 Aswan, Egypt
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 Aswan, Egypt.
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 Aswan, Egypt
The topography around Aswān, Egypt is characterized by a unique blend of desert landscapes and the life-giving Nile River. The city itself is situated on the east bank of the Nile, nestled in a region where the river valley widens into a broad floodplain. This area marks the northern edge of the Nubian Desert, which extends southward into Sudan.
To the east and west of Aswān, the terrain quickly transitions into arid desert plateaus. These expanses are predominantly flat or gently rolling, with occasional rocky outcrops and low hills. The eastern desert, known as the Arabian Desert, stretches towards the Red Sea, while the western desert, part of the vast Sahara, extends seemingly endlessly to the west.
The Nile itself creates a stark contrast to the surrounding desert. Its banks are lush and green, supporting agriculture and settlements. Just north of Aswān is Lake Nasser, a massive artificial reservoir created by the Aswān High Dam. This body of water has significantly altered the local landscape, submerging many ancient Nubian sites and creating new shorelines.
For large-scale solar PV installations, the areas most suited would be the desert regions to the east and west of Aswān. These locations offer several advantages:
- Abundant flat or gently sloping land, ideal for installing large arrays of solar panels
- Minimal vegetation or other obstructions that could shade the panels
- High levels of solar radiation throughout the year due to the region's latitude and clear skies
- Low population density, reducing potential land-use conflicts
The eastern desert might be particularly suitable due to its proximity to existing infrastructure and power lines connecting to the Red Sea coast. However, developers would need to consider factors such as distance from the power grid, access to water for panel cleaning, and the potential impact of sand and dust on the solar equipment.
It's worth noting that while the immediate area around the Nile and Lake Nasser might seem appealing due to water access, these areas are generally more valuable for agriculture and have higher population densities, making them less ideal for large-scale solar projects.
Egypt solar PV Stats as a country
Egypt ranks 34th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 1,675 total MW's of solar PV installed. Each year Egypt is generating 17 Watts from solar PV per capita (Egypt ranks 67th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Egypt?
Yes, there are incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Egypt. The Egyptian government has implemented a number of policies and programs to encourage the adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar power. These include feed-in tariffs, net metering, tax exemptions, and subsidies. Additionally, the government has established a Renewable Energy Authority (REA) to oversee the development of renewable energy projects in Egypt.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Egypt? Please reach out to us and help us keep this information current. Thanks!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Saturday 13th of August 2022
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.
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