Solar PV Analysis of Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
Dire Dawa, Ethiopia is a pretty good location for year-round solar energy production. This city is in the Tropics where sunlight is fairly consistent throughout most of the year. The seasons here are mainly defined by wet and dry periods rather than significant temperature changes.
If you install solar panels here, you can expect to generate roughly 6.58 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for each kilowatt (kW) of solar panel installed during summer, 6.87 kWh/day in autumn, 7.11 kWh/day in winter, and 7.48 kWh/day in spring.
This means that your panels will produce slightly more energy during spring and winter compared to summer and autumn due to cooler temperatures improving efficiency but overall it's quite balanced across all seasons.
The best way to set up your solar panels at this location would be with a tilt angle facing 10 degrees South which maximises total year-round production from the sun's path across the sky.
As for potential obstacles that could reduce your energy production, one major factor could be weather conditions such as cloudy or rainy days which are common during the wet season. These conditions might limit sunlight reaching your panels hence reducing their output significantly.
To counteract these weather effects on your solar system performance, consider installing a larger system so it can still meet energy needs even on less sunny days or storing excess power generated on sunny days using batteries for use later when needed.
Also ensure regular maintenance like cleaning off dust or debris from the surface of the panels as they can block sunlight thus lowering their efficiency.
In conclusion Dire Dawa offers great potential for successful implementation of Solar PV systems given its tropical climate with high sunshine hours throughout most part of the year although careful consideration should be taken into account regarding seasonal variations especially during wet season when cloud cover may affect overall productivity significantly.
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 24 locations across Ethiopia. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Ethiopia by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Dire Dawa
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 9.5932, Longitude: 41.8659 (Dire Dawa, Ethiopia), 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 10° South in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia (Lat/Long 9.5932, 41.8659) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 10° 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 Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
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 Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 10° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6° North in Summer | 16° South in Autumn | 25° South in Winter | 3° 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 Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
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 Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
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 Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
Dire Dawa, Ethiopia is located in the eastern part of the country and it has a diverse topography. The city itself lies in a valley surrounded by hills and mountains, with some flatlands as well. The region experiences a hot semi-arid climate which makes it suitable for solar PV installations.
The areas most suited to large-scale solar PV would likely be the flatlands around the city where there's plenty of sunlight exposure and less obstruction from geographical features like mountains or forests. Some potential locations could include:
1. The plains towards the east of Dire Dawa: These areas have relatively flat terrain which is ideal for setting up large-scale solar panels.
2. Areas along major roads such as Route 4 or Route 30: These are accessible locations that could allow for easy transportation and installation of equipment.
3. Unused land near industrial zones: If there are any unused lands near existing industrial zones, these could also be potential sites since they already have access to infrastructure.
However, before any installation can take place, detailed feasibility studies would need to be conducted including assessment of sun hours per day, soil type (for ground-mounted systems), proximity to transmission lines (for grid connection) among others factors that determine suitability for solar PV installations.
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Monday 13th 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.
