Solar PV Analysis of Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica is a good place to generate energy using solar panels throughout the year. This is because it's located in the Tropics where sunlight is pretty much consistent all year round. The seasons there are more about wet or dry periods rather than big temperature changes.
On average, for every kilowatt of solar power installed, you can expect to produce 6.75 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day in summer, 5.97 in autumn, 5.36 in winter and 7.05 in spring.
The best time of year to generate solar power at this location would be during spring when the daily output peaks at an average of over seven kilowatt-hours per day for each installed kilowatt.
When installing solar panels here, it's ideal to tilt them at an angle pointing 16 degrees southwards so as to get the most out of the sun's rays across all seasons.
However, there might be some local factors that could affect how much energy you can produce from your solar panels here:
1) Rainy season: In Kingston, rain tends to fall heavily between May and November which may reduce sunlight exposure on some days and therefore slightly lower electricity generation during this period.
2) Dust and debris: These can accumulate on your panels over time blocking sunlight thus reducing their efficiency.
3) Hurricanes: Kingston lies within a hurricane belt with potential storms usually occurring from June through November which could cause damage or misalignment of your panels hence affecting their performance.
To help ensure greater energy production despite these challenges:
- Regularly clean your panels especially after heavy rains or dust storms.
- Install protective measures like sturdy mounting systems that can withstand high winds during hurricanes.
- Consider getting insurance coverage for potential storm damage if possible.
Overall though, these challenges aren't likely significant enough to outweigh the benefits given how consistently sunny it is throughout most of the year in Kingston making it a great spot for solar energy production.
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 19 locations across Jamaica. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Jamaica by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Kingston
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 17.9962, Longitude: -76.8019 (Kingston, Jamaica), 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 Kingston, Jamaica
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Kingston, Jamaica (Lat/Long 17.9962, -76.8019) 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 Kingston, Jamaica
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 Kingston, Jamaica. 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 Kingston, Jamaica
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 Kingston, Jamaica.
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 Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, the capital city of Jamaica, is located on the southeastern coast of the island. The topography around Kingston is quite diverse with coastal plains to the south and Blue Mountains to the north. The Liguanea Plains are also a significant geographic feature in this region.
The coastal plains would be most suitable for large scale solar PV installations due to their flat terrain which makes installation and maintenance easier. Additionally, these areas tend to have less cloud cover and more sunlight hours throughout the year which increases solar energy production potential.
However, it's important to note that while physical geography is an important factor in determining suitability for solar power generation, other factors such as land use policies, proximity to transmission lines or grid infrastructure and environmental considerations (like protected areas) should also be taken into account.
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Tuesday 7th of May 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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.
