Solar PV Analysis of Santa Rita, Guam
The location at Santa Rita, Guam is generally good for generating solar energy throughout the year because it's in the tropics where sunlight is pretty much consistent. The amount of electricity that can be produced varies slightly with each season. You can expect to generate 6.14 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in the summer, 5.45 kWh/day in autumn, 5.89 kWh/day in winter, and 7.25 kWh/day in spring for each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar.
Spring seems to be the best time of year for solar generation at this location due to higher daily output compared to other seasons.
If you're installing fixed panels here, tilting them at an angle of 12 degrees towards the south would give you maximum production all year round.
As far as environmental or weather factors that could hinder solar production go, being a tropical region, Guam experiences heavy rainfall especially during wet seasons and occasional typhoons which could damage equipment or reduce sun exposure on panels temporarily due to cloud cover. Also high humidity levels might affect panel efficiency over time.
To overcome these challenges:
1) It's important that your installation includes robust mounting systems capable of withstanding high winds from typhoons.
2) Regular cleaning and maintenance checks are necessary especially after heavy rains or storms.
3) Using anti-reflective coatings on panels could help increase their efficiency by reducing losses caused by humidity.
4) Designing a system with excess capacity can compensate for periods when less power is generated due to weather conditions.
Despite these potential obstacles though; overall Santa Rita still presents a favourable environment for harnessing solar energy most times of the year thanks largely to its consistently sunny climate.
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 6 locations across Guam. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Guam by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Santa Rita
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 13.3913, Longitude: 144.6578 (Santa Rita, Guam), 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 12° South in Santa Rita, Guam
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Santa Rita, Guam (Lat/Long 13.3913, 144.6578) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 12° 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 Santa Rita, Guam
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 Santa Rita, Guam. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 12° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3° North in Summer | 19° South in Autumn | 29° South in Winter | 7° 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 Santa Rita, Guam
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 Santa Rita, Guam.
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 Santa Rita, Guam
Santa Rita is located on the southwestern coast of Guam, a U.S. island territory in Micronesia in the Western Pacific. The topography around Santa Rita is characterized by coastal plains that rise to limestone plateaus and low mountainous areas.
The coastal plains and limestone plateaus could potentially be suitable for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations due to their flat or gently sloping terrain. These areas generally have good sun exposure, which is critical for efficient solar energy generation.
However, there are several factors that need to be considered when identifying suitable sites for large-scale solar PV projects:
1. Land Use: It's important to consider current land use patterns and zoning regulations. Areas currently used for agriculture or protected as natural reserves may not be available for energy development.
2. Accessibility: Sites need to be accessible for installation and maintenance activities. This means they should ideally be close to existing roads and other infrastructure.
3. Proximity to Grid: Large-scale solar PV installations need to connect into the power grid so proximity to existing power lines or substations can influence site suitability.
4. Environmental Impact: Any potential environmental impact needs also consideration including effects on local flora, fauna, water resources etc.
A detailed site assessment considering these factors would provide a clearer picture of most suited areas nearby Santa Rita for large scale Solar PV installations.
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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Monday 10th of June 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.
