Solar Energy Potential in Umele, Maharashtra, India

Umele, Maharashtra, located in India at coordinates 19.363, 72.8377, offers promising conditions for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. This tropical location benefits from consistent sunlight patterns, though with notable seasonal variations in energy production potential. The solar energy generation capacity in Umele follows a distinct seasonal pattern. In Spring, the location reaches its peak performance with an impressive 7.03 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Winter and Autumn periods maintain solid performance at 5.05 kWh/day and 4.96 kWh/day respectively. Summer shows the lowest output at 4.81 kWh/day, though still providing reasonable generation. For maximizing year-round solar energy production at this location, fixed solar panels should be installed at a tilt angle of 19 degrees facing South. This carefully calculated angle optimizes the panels' exposure to sunlight throughout the year, accounting for Umele's specific latitude and the Earth's elliptical orbit around the sun.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several significant factors could impact solar production in Umele:

• Monsoon season brings heavy rainfall, typically from June to September, which can reduce solar efficiency through cloud cover and direct precipitation.
• High humidity levels, especially during monsoon months, may cause accelerated degradation of solar equipment if not properly protected.
• Dust and air pollution from nearby urban areas can accumulate on panels, reducing their efficiency over time.

To mitigate these challenges, several preventative measures should be considered during installation. Solar panels should be mounted with adequate drainage systems to prevent water accumulation during monsoon rains. Using corrosion-resistant materials and proper sealing techniques helps combat humidity-related deterioration. Regular cleaning schedules, potentially with automated cleaning systems, can address dust accumulation issues. Additionally, installing panels at a slightly steeper angle than the calculated 19 degrees might help with natural cleaning from rainfall, though this would come with a small trade-off in overall annual efficiency. Despite these challenges, Umele's location remains quite favorable for solar energy production, with its spring months offering exceptional generation potential and a good year-round average performance.

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 Umele

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 19.363, Longitude: 72.8377 (Umele, 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 19° South in Umele, India

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Umele, India (Lat/Long 19.363, 72.8377) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 19° 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 Umele, 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 Umele, India. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 19° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
3° South in Summer	26° South in Autumn	34° South in Winter	13° 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 Umele, 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 Umele, India.

Our calculation method

1. Solar Position:
   We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination.
2. Shadow Projection:
   We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle.
3. 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 Umele, India

The area around Umele, located in Maharashtra, India, presents a diverse topographical landscape typical of the western coastal region of the Indian subcontinent. Umele sits within the larger Mumbai metropolitan region, specifically in the Thane district, and exhibits characteristics of the transition zone between the coastal plains and the rising Western Ghats.

Topographical Features

The immediate vicinity of Umele features gently undulating terrain with modest elevation changes. The area is part of the narrow Konkan coastal strip that runs along India's western coastline. Moving eastward from Umele, the terrain gradually rises toward the Western Ghats, a mountain range that forms a significant escarpment running parallel to the coastline. This creates a topographical gradient from the relatively flat coastal areas to increasingly hilly terrain as one moves inland. Several water bodies influence the local topography. The Ulhas River flows nearby, and numerous smaller streams and drainage channels cut through the landscape, creating natural valleys and occasional floodplains. These waterways have shaped the terrain over time, carving gentle depressions in the otherwise rolling landscape. The region also features scattered patches of forest cover, particularly on hillier sections, interspersed with cleared areas used for agriculture and human settlement. The soil composition varies but generally consists of lateritic soils common to this part of Maharashtra, with occasional rocky outcrops visible in areas of higher elevation.

Solar PV Potential in Surrounding Areas

When considering large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations near Umele, several areas show particular promise based on topographical and practical considerations. The relatively flat terrain to the west and southwest of Umele offers favorable conditions for solar PV deployment. These areas receive consistent sunlight exposure throughout the year, with fewer shadowing effects from hills or mountains. The gently sloping lands that characterize parts of this region provide natural drainage while still being flat enough for efficient panel installation without requiring extensive grading work. Higher elevation areas to the east, where the terrain begins to rise toward the Western Ghats, present interesting opportunities for solar development. These elevated plateaus and terraces receive excellent solar radiation with minimal obstruction, though installation costs may be higher due to the more challenging terrain. Some of these higher areas have sparse vegetation and limited agricultural value, making them suitable candidates for solar development from a land-use perspective. Areas of previously disturbed land, such as abandoned quarries or non-productive agricultural plots, represent particularly suitable locations for solar development. These sites offer the dual benefit of putting underutilized land to productive use while avoiding the environmental impacts associated with converting pristine natural areas. It's worth noting that while the monsoon season brings heavy rainfall to this region between June and September, the remaining months offer excellent solar insolation values. The optimal solar sites would be those with good drainage characteristics to manage seasonal precipitation while maximizing exposure during the drier, sunnier periods of the year. The proximity to Mumbai's metropolitan area also means that potential solar development sites near Umele benefit from relatively close access to existing electrical infrastructure and transmission networks, an important practical consideration for large-scale solar projects beyond purely topographical factors.

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

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.