Solar PV Analysis of Port Louis, Mauritius
Port Louis, Mauritius is a pretty good location for year-round solar energy production due to its tropical climate. This means that it gets a consistent amount of sunlight throughout the year, which is crucial for generating solar power. The amount of electricity produced by each kilowatt of installed solar varies with the seasons: in summer you can expect around 7.76 kWh per day, in autumn it's about 5.47 kWh per day, winter drops to 4.67 kWh per day and spring jumps back up to 7.18 kWh per day.
The best times of the year for generating solar power at this location are during the summer and spring when sunlight levels are highest. However, even during autumn and winter there's still a decent amount of electricity being produced.
If you're installing fixed panels at this location, they should be tilted at an angle of 17 degrees facing north to get maximum exposure from the sun all year round.
There could be some local factors that might affect how much energy your panels produce though – things like heavy rainfall or dust storms could block out sunlight or dirty your panels which would reduce their effectiveness.
To prevent these issues from affecting your output too much, you could install protective covers over your panels during particularly bad weather or have them cleaned regularly to remove any dirt or debris that might build up on them over time.
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 41 locations across Mauritius. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Mauritius by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Port Louis
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -20.1608, Longitude: 57.4994 (Port Louis, Mauritius), 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 17° North in Port Louis, Mauritius
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Port Louis, Mauritius (Lat/Long -20.1608, 57.4994) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 17° 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 Port Louis, Mauritius
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 Port Louis, Mauritius. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 17° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4° North in Summer | 26° North in Autumn | 36° North in Winter | 13° North 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 Port Louis, Mauritius
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 Port Louis, Mauritius.
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 Port Louis, Mauritius
Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius, is located in the northwest part of the island. The topography around Port Louis is a mix of coastal plains and mountains. It sits on a natural harbor surrounded by hills and mountains including Signal Mountain, Pieter Both Mountain, and Le Pouce Mountain.
The region experiences a tropical climate with high humidity levels throughout the year, but also enjoys plentiful sunlight making it suitable for solar PV installation.
However, considering large scale solar PV installations requires open spaces with less shading from trees or buildings. Given this:
1) The flat coastal plains surrounding Port Louis could be potential areas for large-scale solar PV plantations as they receive ample sunlight and have less obstructions compared to hilly terrains.
2) Unused agricultural lands or fallow lands can also be considered for such installations given they are not used for other purposes.
3) Rooftops in urban areas can also host smaller scale distributed solar power generation systems which collectively contribute to significant capacity.
It's important to note that any decision about installing large scale solar PV should consider multiple factors including land use policies, environmental impact assessments and socio-economic factors among others.
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Wednesday 29th 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.
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.
