Solar PV Analysis of Savarkundla, India
Savarkundla, Gujarat, India, situated at 21.3346° N latitude and 71.3095° E longitude, presents a favorable location for solar energy generation throughout the year. This tropical location benefits from consistent sunlight, with seasons characterized more by wet and dry periods than significant temperature variations.
Seasonal Solar Performance
The solar energy output in Savarkundla demonstrates impressive consistency across seasons, with a notable peak during spring:
- Summer: 5.22 kWh/day
- Autumn: 4.93 kWh/day
- Winter: 5.10 kWh/day
- Spring: 7.34 kWh/day
Spring emerges as the most productive season, likely due to clearer skies and optimal sun angles. The relatively high output during winter is particularly advantageous, ensuring steady energy production year-round.
Optimal Panel Installation
For fixed panel installations in Savarkundla, Gujarat, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round solar production is 20 degrees facing South. This angle optimizes the panels' exposure to sunlight throughout the year, accounting for the location's latitude and the Earth's elliptical orbit.
Environmental Considerations
While Savarkundla's climate is generally conducive to solar energy production, there are some environmental factors to consider:
The region experiences a monsoon season, typically from June to September. Heavy rainfall and increased cloud cover during this period may temporarily reduce solar panel efficiency. To mitigate this, installing panels with high water resistance and ensuring proper drainage systems can help maintain performance.
Dust accumulation is another potential issue in this semi-arid region. Regular cleaning and maintenance of panels, possibly incorporating automated cleaning systems, can help maintain optimal energy production. Additionally, installing panels at a slight angle aids in natural dust removal during rainfall.
Overall, Savarkundla's location offers excellent potential for solar energy generation. With proper installation techniques and maintenance practices, these environmental factors can be effectively managed to ensure consistent and efficient solar power production throughout 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 Savarkundla
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 21.3346, Longitude: 71.3095 (Savarkundla, 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 Savarkundla, India
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Savarkundla, India (Lat/Long 21.3346, 71.3095) 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 Savarkundla, 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 Savarkundla, 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 | 28° 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 Savarkundla, 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 Savarkundla, 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 Savarkundla, India
The area around Savarkundla, India, located at 21.3346°N latitude and 71.3095°E longitude, is characterized by relatively flat terrain with some gentle undulations. This region is part of the Saurashtra peninsula in Gujarat state, known for its semi-arid climate and predominantly rural landscape.
The topography of Savarkundla and its surroundings consists mainly of low-lying plains with occasional small hills or elevated areas. The land gradually slopes towards the Arabian Sea, which is located about 50-60 kilometers to the south. The area is dotted with numerous small rivers and streams, many of which are seasonal and only flow during the monsoon season.
The soil in this region is primarily alluvial, formed by deposits from rivers and streams over time. This type of soil is generally fertile but can become dry and compact during the hot, dry months. Vegetation in the area is sparse, consisting mainly of scrub forests, thorny bushes, and drought-resistant grass species.
For large-scale solar PV installations, the areas most suited would be the open, flat lands surrounding Savarkundla. These areas offer several advantages for solar energy production:
- The flat terrain makes it easier and more cost-effective to install and maintain solar panels.
- The region receives ample sunlight throughout the year, with clear skies for most of the non-monsoon months.
- The semi-arid climate means there is less cloud cover and rainfall, which could otherwise reduce solar energy production.
- The sparse vegetation and predominantly rural setting provide large, unobstructed areas for solar farm development.
Specific locations that might be particularly well-suited for solar PV installations include the open fields and fallow lands to the north and east of Savarkundla. These areas typically have good road access, which is crucial for the transportation of equipment and maintenance of the solar facilities. Additionally, the gently sloping lands towards the south of the town could also be considered, as they may provide a slight advantage in terms of solar panel orientation.
However, it's important to note that any large-scale solar PV project would require detailed site-specific assessments, including soil stability tests, environmental impact studies, and evaluations of the local power grid infrastructure to ensure feasibility and sustainability.
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: Friday 9th of August 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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Compare this location to others worldwide for solar PV potential
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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
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