Solar PV Analysis of Gandhinagar, India
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India is a good location for solar energy production throughout the year due to its tropical climate, where sunlight is consistent for most of the year. The average amount of energy that can be expected from each kilowatt of installed solar varies by season: 5.50 kWh/day in summer, 5.06 kWh/day in autumn, 4.94 kWh/day in winter and 7.47 kWh/day in spring.
This means that while there's some fluctuation across seasons, you can still expect a decent amount of energy generation even during the less ideal periods like winter or autumn.
The best time to generate solar power at this location is during spring when the daily yield per kilowatt installed reaches its peak at 7.47kWh/day.
When installing solar panels here it would be best to tilt them at an angle of 22 degrees towards South as this will maximise their exposure to sunlight across the whole year and thus increase their overall power output.
However, there might be some local factors which could potentially affect solar production at this location:
1) Monsoon Season: This region experiences heavy rainfall during monsoon season which could limit sun exposure and therefore reduce power generation from your panels. To mitigate this issue you might consider using micro-inverters instead of central inverters as they allow each panel to operate independently so if one panel gets shaded or dirty it won't affect the others.
2) Dust & Dirt: Dust and dirt accumulation on panels can also decrease their efficiency by blocking sunlight. Regular cleaning should prevent any significant reduction in performance due to dust or dirt build-up.
3) Heat: While sunlight is crucial for generating electricity via solar PV systems, too much heat can actually decrease panel efficiency because they operate better under cooler conditions than under intense heat (like what we often get around mid-day). To mitigate against potential overheating issues you may want to ensure adequate ventilation around your panels.
Overall, despite these potential challenges, Gandhinagar still offers a favourable environment for solar energy production due to its consistent sunlight exposure throughout most of the year.
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 Gandhinagar
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 23.2167, Longitude: 72.6833 (Gandhinagar, 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 22° South in Gandhinagar, India
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Gandhinagar, India (Lat/Long 23.2167, 72.6833) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 22° 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 Gandhinagar, 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 Gandhinagar, India. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 22° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7° South in Summer | 29° South in Autumn | 38° 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 Gandhinagar, 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 Gandhinagar, 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 Gandhinagar, India
Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat, India, is located in a flat terrain. The topography of the region is generally flat with low-lying areas. The region has an average elevation of about 81 meters above sea level.
The climate is tropical and receives abundant sunlight throughout the year making it suitable for solar power generation. The state of Gujarat already has one of the largest solar power plants in Asia located at Charanka Solar Park.
For large scale solar PV projects, areas with flat terrains and high levels of sunlight are ideal. In Gandhinagar's case, nearby regions like Mehsana to the north or Kheda to the south can be potential locations due to their similar topographical features - mostly flat agricultural lands that could potentially be converted into large-scale solar farms.
Moreover, any area that is not densely populated or does not have high-rise buildings would be suitable as they will have less shadowing effect on the panels. Also, proximity to transmission lines would be beneficial for easy connectivity and supply to grid.
However, environmental impact assessments should always be carried out before installing large scale PV systems as it may affect local habitats and ecosystems.
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: Monday 8th of January 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.
