Solar PV Analysis of Balikpapan, Indonesia
Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia is a good location for year-round solar energy generation due to its tropical climate. The amount of sunlight it gets doesn't change much throughout the year, making it an ideal place for solar panels.
The amount of electricity you can expect to get from each kilowatt of installed solar varies slightly by season: 4.93 kWh/day in Summer, 5.26 kWh/day in Autumn, 4.95 kWh/day in Winter and 4.96 kWh/day in Spring.
In other words, if you have a one-kilowatt solar panel system installed at this location, you can expect to generate about five units (kWh) of electricity per day on average across all seasons.
Autumn seems to be the best time for generating solar power at this location as it has the highest daily output compared with other seasons.
When installing your fixed-panel solar system here, tilting your panels two degrees towards the North will give you maximum energy production throughout the year.
However, there are some local factors that could potentially affect your solar production:
1) Tropical Rainfall: Balikpapan experiences heavy rainfall particularly during wet seasons which may reduce sunlight exposure.
Prevention: Regular cleaning and maintenance of panels help keep them efficient even during rainy days.
2) High Humidity: This might cause condensation or accumulation of moisture on the surface of panels which could lower their efficiency.
Prevention: Using anti-reflective coating on panels helps prevent moisture build-up and improves light absorption
3) Dust & Dirt Accumulation: Due to open burning practices around Borneo Island region where Balikpapan is located.
Prevention: Regular cleaning ensures dust does not block sunlight reaching the cells within your panel
Despite these potential challenges though, they are easily manageable with regular maintenance and care taken when choosing materials used for installation ensuring optimal performance from your Solar PV system at this location.
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 151 locations across Indonesia. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Indonesia by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Balikpapan
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -1.261, Longitude: 116.8105 (Balikpapan, Indonesia), 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 2° North in Balikpapan, Indonesia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Balikpapan, Indonesia (Lat/Long -1.261, 116.8105) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 2° North 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 Balikpapan, Indonesia
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 Balikpapan, Indonesia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 2° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15° South in Summer | 7° North in Autumn | 17° North in Winter | 5° 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 Balikpapan, Indonesia
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 Balikpapan, Indonesia.
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 Balikpapan, Indonesia
Balikpapan, Indonesia is located on the eastern coast of Borneo island. The city sits in a bay and is surrounded by coastal areas, hills, and dense tropical rainforest. The topography can be quite varied with flat coastal plains transitioning into hilly and mountainous regions as you move inland.
The climate in Balikpapan is equatorial with high levels of sunlight throughout the year making it an ideal location for solar PV installations. However, the frequent cloud cover and high rainfall could affect solar energy production.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat open spaces are most suitable to allow for maximum sun exposure and ease of installation. Therefore, cleared land or agricultural areas around Balikpapan might be suitable if they're not used for critical food production or habitat for wildlife.
However, considering that much of this region is covered by dense forest which plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation, any development should take into account potential environmental impacts.
Furthermore, offshore floating solar farms could also be an option given Balikapapan's coastal location but would require significant investment and consideration of marine impacts.
In all cases thorough feasibility studies including environmental impact assessments would need to be carried out before deciding on specific locations.
Indonesia solar PV Stats as a country
Indonesia ranks 71st in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 211 total MW's of solar PV installed. Each year Indonesia is generating 1 Watts from solar PV per capita (Indonesia ranks 88th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Indonesia?
Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Indonesia. The Indonesian government has implemented a number of policies and programs to encourage the adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar power. These include tax exemptions, subsidies, feed-in tariffs, and other financial incentives. Additionally, the government has established a Renewable Energy Fund which provides grants for research and development projects related to renewable energy technologies.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Indonesia? Please reach out to us and help us keep this information current. Thanks!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Friday 21st 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.
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.
