Solar PV Analysis of Raipur, India
Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India is a pretty good location for generating solar energy throughout the year. This is because it's located in the Tropics where sunlight is consistent for most of the year. The seasons are usually more about wet and dry periods rather than big changes in temperature or daylight hours.
In terms of numbers, you can expect to generate around 4.81 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day from each installed kilowatt (kW) of solar panels in Summer, 4.98 kWh/day in Autumn, 4.90 kWh/day in Winter, and as much as 6.65 kWh/day in Spring.
Spring seems to be the best time of year for generating solar power at this location due to longer days and clearer skies compared to other seasons which might have more cloud cover or shorter days.
When installing solar panels here, it's recommended that they be tilted at an angle of 20 degrees towards the South for maximum efficiency all-year-round.
However, there could be some factors that may affect how much energy you get from your solar panels at this location. For instance:
1) Monsoon Season: Raipur experiences monsoon season between June and September when heavy rains could reduce sunlight exposure on your panels resulting into lower energy production.
2) Dust & Pollution: Dust accumulation on panel surfaces or air pollution might also decrease their efficiency over time.
To mitigate these issues:
- Regular cleaning and maintenance of your solar panels can help keep them running efficiently by removing dust or dirt.
- Installing a weather resistant structure above the panels could help protect them during heavy rain periods without blocking out too much sunlight.
Overall though, Raipur seems like a solid choice if you're looking into setting up a solar power system since it gets plenty of sunshine throughout most parts 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 Raipur
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 21.2339, Longitude: 81.6328 (Raipur, 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 Raipur, India
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Raipur, India (Lat/Long 21.2339, 81.6328) 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 Raipur, 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 Raipur, 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 Raipur, 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 Raipur, 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 Raipur, India
Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh state in India, is located on the Deccan plateau. The topography around Raipur is relatively flat with some undulating areas. It has fertile plains and rolling uplands in some parts with an average elevation of about 298 meters above sea level.
The region receives a good amount of sunlight throughout the year, making it suitable for large-scale solar PV installations. The most suitable areas for such installations would be those with flat or gently sloping lands that are not used for agriculture or any other purposes.
In terms of specific locations near Raipur that could be ideal for large-scale solar PV projects:
1. Durg-Bhilai: This region to the west of Raipur has vast open spaces and industrial infrastructure which could support large-scale solar power generation.
2. Mahasamund: Located to the east of Raipur, this area also features expansive open spaces.
3. Baloda Bazar: North-east from Raipur, this area has a lot of unused land which can be utilized for solar power generation.
However, before setting up any installation, it's important to conduct a proper feasibility study considering factors like local land use regulations, environmental impact assessments etc., apart from just topographical suitability.
Please note that while these suggestions are based on general geographical information available publicly online and standard considerations in choosing sites for Solar PV plants (like availability of sunlight & flatness), they should not replace professional site surveys & studies required before setting up such facilities.
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 18th 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.
