Solar PV Analysis of Kollam, India
Kollam, Kerala, India is a pretty good location for generating solar energy year-round. This is because it's in the Tropics, where sunlight is fairly consistent throughout the year. The electricity output per kilowatt of installed solar can be expected to vary slightly with seasons: 5.71kWh/day in Summer, 5.05kWh/day in Autumn, 6.06kWh/day in Winter and 6.26kWh/day in Spring.
The best times of year to generate solar at this location are during winter and spring when output is highest due to increased sunlight hours and intensity compared to summer and autumn.
For a fixed panel installation at this location, tilting panels at an angle of 8 degrees South will provide maximum total yearly production from your solar system.
However, there could be some local factors that might hinder solar production here. For instance, Kollam experiences tropical monsoon climate which means heavy rainfall especially during June-September (the Southwest Monsoon season). This could reduce sunlight availability thereby affecting power generation.
To overcome this issue while installing solar panels one can consider using micro-inverters instead of central inverters as they perform better under partial shade conditions or cloudy weather by optimizing for each individual panel rather than the entire array.
Also considering regular maintenance like cleaning off dust or bird droppings from the panels would ensure optimal performance as these can block sunlight reaching the cells within the panels.
In conclusion, with proper installation techniques and regular maintenance practices Kollam seems an ideal place for harnessing sun's energy most time 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 Kollam
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 8.8814, Longitude: 76.585 (Kollam, 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 8° South in Kollam, India
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Kollam, India (Lat/Long 8.8814, 76.585) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 8° 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 Kollam, 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 Kollam, India. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 8° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7° North in Summer | 14° South in Autumn | 24° 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 Kollam, 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 Kollam, 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 Kollam, India
Kollam, located in the Indian state of Kerala, is characterized by a tropical monsoon climate with a relatively flat terrain. The city is situated on the coast and features several water bodies including Ashtamudi Lake and Kallada River. It also has some hilly regions towards the east.
The topography around Kollam mainly consists of coastal plains to the west and hills to the east. With its abundant sunlight throughout much of the year, Kollam could potentially be a suitable location for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations.
For large-scale solar PV projects, areas with flat terrains are generally more preferable as they require less land preparation work. Therefore, the coastal plains in and around Kollam might be better suited for such projects compared to hilly regions.
However, there are multiple factors that need to be considered when deciding on locations for large-scale solar PV installations beyond just topography. These include sunlight intensity (solar irradiance), local weather patterns, availability of land space, proximity to power grids or energy consumption sites among others.
In addition to this, Kerala's government has been promoting rooftop solar panels due to scarcity of vacant land which can also be an option in urban areas like Kollam where open spaces may not be readily available.
Therefore detailed feasibility studies considering all these aspects would need to be conducted before deciding on suitable locations for large scale Solar PV installations.
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!
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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Saturday 8th 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.
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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.
