Hiyoshi, Kanagawa, Japan, located at latitude 35.5567 and longitude 139.6534 in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers reasonably good conditions for solar PV energy generation throughout the year, with some seasonal variations. This location experiences moderate solar energy potential across all seasons, with noticeably stronger production during summer and spring months.

Seasonal Solar Production

The solar energy output at this location shows distinct seasonal patterns. Summer yields the highest daily production at 5.27 kWh per installed kilowatt, closely followed by spring at 5.22 kWh/day. Energy generation decreases considerably during autumn (3.56 kWh/day) and winter (3.44 kWh/day), when the sun's path is lower in the sky and days are shorter.

This pattern indicates that Hiyoshi has a good balance of solar potential, with production remaining meaningful even during the less productive winter months. The location benefits from relatively stable conditions that allow for consistent energy generation throughout the year, though with clear seasonal differences.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Hiyoshi, Kanagawa, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 33 degrees facing South. This specific angle has been calculated to optimize solar capture across all seasons, taking into account the Earth's elliptical orbit and the changing solar elevation angles at this latitude.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several environmental factors could potentially affect solar production in Hiyoshi:

• Japan's rainy season (typically June-July) may temporarily reduce solar output due to increased cloud cover and precipitation.
• Typhoon season (August-October) brings risks of extreme weather that could physically damage installations if not properly secured.
• Urban air pollution in the greater Tokyo area, where Hiyoshi is located, may slightly reduce panel efficiency through particulate buildup.
• Occasional snowfall in winter months can temporarily cover panels, though this is relatively infrequent in this region.

To mitigate these challenges, solar installations in Hiyoshi should include robust mounting systems designed to withstand typhoon-force winds, regular cleaning schedules to remove pollution buildup, and potentially slightly steeper panel angles than the optimal 33 degrees if winter snow accumulation proves problematic. Self-cleaning panel technologies or hydrophobic coatings may also help maintain efficiency during rainy periods.

Overall, Hiyoshi presents a favorable location for solar PV installation with good year-round potential, particularly if these environmental considerations are properly addressed during system design and installation.

Note: The Northern Temperate Zone extends from 35° latitude North up to 66.5° latitude.

So far, we have conducted calculations to evaluate the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in 187 locations across Japan. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.

Link: Solar PV potential in Japan by location

Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Hiyoshi

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 35.5567, Longitude: 139.6534 (Hiyoshi, Japan), 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 33° South in Hiyoshi, Japan

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Hiyoshi, Japan (Lat/Long 35.5567, 139.6534) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 33° 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 Hiyoshi, Japan

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 Hiyoshi, Japan. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 33° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
20° South in Summer	41° South in Autumn	50° South in Winter	29° 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 Hiyoshi, Japan

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 Hiyoshi, Japan.

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 Hiyoshi, Japan

The topography around Hiyoshi, Japan presents a varied landscape characteristic of the greater Tokyo metropolitan region. Located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Hiyoshi sits in a transitional zone between the coastal plains of Tokyo Bay to the east and the more elevated terrain that rises toward the southwest. The area features gentle hills and valleys, with elevations gradually increasing as one moves westward from the coastal lowlands. Hiyoshi itself is situated in a relatively flat basin area, surrounded by modest hills that rarely exceed 100 meters in elevation. The Tama River flows not far to the north, creating a natural boundary and contributing to the alluvial nature of some of the lower-lying areas. This river valley has historically shaped the local topography, creating gentle slopes and occasional flat plateaus.

Surrounding Terrain Features

Moving outward from Hiyoshi, the landscape becomes more varied. To the west and southwest, the terrain becomes increasingly hilly as it transitions toward the more mountainous regions of western Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture. These hills are typically covered with a mix of residential development and patches of forest vegetation. To the east, the land gradually flattens toward Tokyo Bay, with more densely developed urban areas. This eastern region features extensive human modification of the natural landscape, with significant infrastructure development and limited open space. The southern region includes a mix of residential areas built on low hills and some commercial districts in flatter areas. Small streams and drainage channels traverse the landscape, further defining the subtle topographic variations.

Potential Areas for Solar PV Development

When considering large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) development near Hiyoshi, several factors must be evaluated beyond just topography, including land availability, existing development patterns, and environmental considerations. The most suitable areas for large-scale solar PV would likely be found in the relatively flat regions to the southeast, where some industrial zones and open spaces exist. These areas offer less complicated terrain for installation and maintenance of solar arrays. Additionally, some of the gentler south-facing slopes in the western hills could potentially accommodate solar installations, as they would receive favorable sun exposure throughout the day. However, it's important to note that the entire region around Hiyoshi is heavily urbanized as part of the greater Tokyo metropolitan area. This urbanization significantly limits the availability of contiguous open land parcels that would be necessary for truly large-scale solar PV development. Most potential solar development in this region would likely be limited to: 1. Rooftop installations on large commercial and industrial buildings 2. Smaller ground-mounted arrays in available open spaces 3. Potential brownfield redevelopment sites For truly large-scale solar PV installations, one would need to look significantly farther from Hiyoshi, perhaps to the more rural areas of western Kanagawa Prefecture or neighboring Yamanashi Prefecture, where larger tracts of suitable land might be available on plateaus or in broader valleys with good solar exposure. The immediate vicinity of Hiyoshi, while benefiting from a generally moderate terrain that would be technically suitable for solar installations, faces significant constraints due to existing development patterns and the premium placed on available land in this densely populated region near Tokyo.

Japan solar PV Stats as a country

Japan ranks 3rd in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 74,191 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 8.30% of Japan's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 9th in the world). Each year Japan is generating 590 Watts from solar PV per capita (Japan ranks 4th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]

Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Japan?

Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Japan. These include the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program, which provides a fixed price for electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar; subsidies and grants from local governments; tax credits; and loans with low interest rates. Additionally, businesses may be eligible for additional incentives depending on their location and type of installation.

Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Japan? Please reach out to us and help us keep this information current. Thanks!

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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.