Solar PV Analysis of Bhadrak, India
Bhadrak, Odisha, India is a good location for year-round solar energy production because it's located in the tropics where sunlight is consistent throughout most of the year. The amount of electricity that can be produced from each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar panels varies slightly by season, with the highest output in spring at 5.97 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day and the lowest in autumn at 4.19 kWh/day.
The best time to generate solar power here would be during spring, when daily electricity output peaks due to longer daylight hours and more direct sunlight. However, even in autumn and winter, which have slightly lower outputs, you can still expect a decent electricity generation due to Bhadrak’s tropical climate which provides consistent sunlight all year round.
For a fixed panel installation at this location, tilting your panels 20 degrees south will maximize total yearly production from your solar photovoltaic (PV) system by capturing maximum sunlight across different seasons.
As for potential obstacles that could impede solar production at this location; heavy monsoon rains or dust storms could temporarily reduce output by blocking sunlight. To counteract these effects and ensure greater energy production:
1. Install durable PV systems that can withstand heavy rainfall.
2. Regularly clean your panels to remove dust or debris.
3. Consider installing tracking systems that adjust the angle of your panels throughout the day for optimal sun exposure.
However these are not significant impediments as they do not persist all through out the year but occur only periodically or seasonally.
Overall Bhadrak seems like an ideal place for generating energy via Solar PV due its geographical position providing ample sunshine through out most parts of the year with slight variations based on seasonal changes.
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 422 locations across India. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in India by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Bhadrak
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 21.0507, Longitude: 86.5144 (Bhadrak, India), 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 20° South in Bhadrak, India
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Bhadrak, India (Lat/Long 21.0507, 86.5144) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 20° 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 Bhadrak, India
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 Bhadrak, India. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 20° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5° South in Summer | 27° South in Autumn | 36° South in Winter | 15° 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 Bhadrak, India
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 Bhadrak, India.
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 Bhadrak, India
Bhadrak is located in the eastern part of India and is characterized by a fairly flat terrain with low-lying areas. The region experiences a tropical wet and dry climate, with hot summers and moderate winters. This area doesn't have significant mountain ranges or high-altitude regions.
As far as suitability for large-scale solar PV installations, the surrounding rural areas that are relatively flat would be ideal due to their ample sunlight exposure throughout the year. Also, these less populated areas are suitable because large-scale solar projects require significant land space.
Moreover, considering the climatic condition which includes an average annual temperature of around 27 degrees Celsius (80.6°F) and average annual rainfall of about 1450 mm, there should be sufficient sun exposure to generate substantial amounts of solar energy despite periods of monsoon rains.
However, before any such project can begin it's necessary to conduct a detailed feasibility study including factors like local weather patterns, availability of infrastructure for power transmission and possible environmental impacts among others.
India solar PV Stats as a country
India ranks 5th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 49,684 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 6.50% of India's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 11th in the world). Each year India is generating 36 Watts from solar PV per capita (India ranks 56th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in India?
Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in India. These include:
1. Capital Subsidy: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) provides a capital subsidy of up to 30% on the cost of installing solar power systems for commercial and industrial establishments.
2. Accelerated Depreciation: Businesses can avail accelerated depreciation benefits under Section 32 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which allows them to claim tax deductions on investments made in solar projects over a period of five years instead of claiming it all at once.
3. Net Metering: This policy allows businesses to sell excess electricity generated from their rooftop solar system back into the grid at retail rates, thus reducing their electricity bills significantly.
4. Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC): Businesses can earn SRECs by generating renewable energy through their rooftop solar systems and then selling these certificates in the open market or trading platforms like IEX or PXIL at predetermined prices set by state regulatory commissions.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in India? 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: Tuesday 2nd of April 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
Tell Us About Your Work
We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.
Feeling generous?
Share this with your friends!
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.
