Solar PV Analysis of Visakhapatnam, India
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India is a very good location for generating solar energy all year round. This is because it's located in the Tropics, where sunlight is fairly consistent throughout most of the year and seasons are often marked more by wet and dry periods rather than significant changes in temperature or daylight hours.
If you were to install a solar panel system there, you could expect it to generate around 5.22 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for each kilowatt (kW) of panels installed during the summer. In autumn, that figure would be slightly lower at around 4.54 kWh/day per kW; in winter it would be about 4.87 kWh/day per kW; and then spring would see an increase up to approximately 6.49 kWh/day per kW.
The best times of year to generate solar power at this location are during spring and summer when the sun's rays are strongest and days are longer.
For those considering installing fixed panel solar systems at this location, tilting your panels at an angle of 16 degrees facing south will help maximise your total energy production from these panels over the course of a year.
In terms of potential issues that might impede solar production here: The area does have monsoon season which can lead to heavy rainfalls reducing sunlight exposure on some days but overall should not significantly impact annual output as these periods tend not to last too long.
As preventative measures against any possible reduction in energy production due to weather conditions or other local factors, regular cleaning and maintenance will help ensure your panels function optimally despite dust or debris build-up which can sometimes occur due to wind-blown dirt or falling leaves etc., especially during drier seasons when dust levels may rise higher than normal.
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 Visakhapatnam
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 17.6774, Longitude: 83.2036 (Visakhapatnam, 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 16° South in Visakhapatnam, India
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Visakhapatnam, India (Lat/Long 17.6774, 83.2036) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 16° 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 Visakhapatnam, 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 Visakhapatnam, India. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 16° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2° South in Summer | 23° South in Autumn | 33° South in Winter | 11° 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 Visakhapatnam, 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 Visakhapatnam, 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 Visakhapatnam, India
Visakhapatnam, also known as Vizag, is located on the eastern coast of India in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The city is surrounded by hills from the Western Ghats and faces the Bay of Bengal to its east. The topography ranges from coastal plains to hilly terrain with small valleys.
The region has a tropical climate with abundant sunshine throughout most of the year making it suitable for solar PV installations. However, considering topography for large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping lands are more favorable due to ease of installation and maintenance.
Here are few potential areas near Visakhapatnam that could be suited for large-scale solar PV:
1. Coastal Plains: These regions have relatively flat terrains which can be ideal for setting up large scale solar farms.
2. Unused Land in Industrial Areas: Visakhapatnam is an industrial hub with several industries having significant unused land that could potentially host solar panels.
3. Rural Areas: There are many rural areas around Visakhapatnam where land might be available at lower costs and can be used for setting up solar farms.
However, before any such project can take place, detailed feasibility studies would need to be conducted including aspects like availability and cost of land, connection to grid infrastructure, local weather patterns among other 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!
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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Thursday 16th 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.
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Calculate Your Optimal Solar Panel Tilt Angle: A Comprehensive Guide
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