The location at Quatre Bornes, Plaines Wilhems District, Mauritius is pretty good for generating energy through solar panels throughout the year. This is because it's located in the Tropics where sunlight is consistent most of the time. The amount of electricity a solar panel can produce varies with seasons, producing around 7.76kWh/day in Summer, 5.47kWh/day in Autumn, 4.67kWh/day in Winter and 7.18kWh/day in Spring per kW of installed solar.

This means that you'll get more power from your solar panels during summer and spring when compared to autumn and winter due to longer daylight hours and higher sun intensity during these seasons.

To get the most out of your solar panels all year round at this location though, they should be fixed at an angle facing 18 degrees North as this will help them catch more sunlight over the course of a day.

However there might be some local factors that could affect how much energy you can generate from your solar panels here such as weather conditions like heavy rainfall or cyclones which are common on tropical islands like Mauritius; these could damage your panels or block sunlight reaching them thus reducing their efficiency.

To protect against this, sturdy mounting systems should be used when installing your panels to withstand strong winds while regular cleaning would ensure maximum exposure to sunlight by removing any debris or dust accumulation on their surface after heavy rains or storms.

Also consider getting insurance coverage for your installation against potential damages from extreme weather events just as a precautionary measure!

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 Quatre Bornes

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -20.2661, Longitude: 57.4711 (Quatre Bornes, 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:

Average 7.76kWh/day in Summer.

Average 5.47kWh/day in Autumn.

Average 4.67kWh/day in Winter.

Average 7.18kWh/day in Spring.

Ideally tilt fixed solar panels 18° North in Quatre Bornes, Mauritius

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Quatre Bornes, Mauritius (Lat/Long -20.2661, 57.4711) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 18° 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.

At Latitude: -20.2661, Longitude: 57.4711, the ideal angle to tilt panels is 18° North

Seasonally adjusted solar panel tilt angles for Quatre Bornes, 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 Quatre Bornes, Mauritius. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 18° North tilt angle throughout the year.

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 Quatre Bornes, 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 Quatre Bornes, Mauritius.

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 Quatre Bornes, Mauritius

Quatre Bornes, Mauritius is located on the central plateau of the island. The topography of the region is relatively flat with slight undulations, which makes it suitable for various types of infrastructure development including solar PV installations.

As for specific areas suited to large-scale solar PV around Quatre Bornes, this would depend on a variety of factors beyond just topography. Other considerations include land ownership and use, proximity to power grid connections and roads for accessibility, as well as environmental impact assessments.

However, considering only topography and geographic location:
1. Open spaces in the Central Plateau: The central plateau has several open spaces that could be potentially used for large-scale solar PV due to its flatter terrain.
2. Agricultural lands: There are several sugarcane fields in Mauritius that can be converted into dual-purpose lands where both agriculture and solar energy production can coexist.
3. Coastal regions: Although not directly nearby Quatre Bornes but still within reasonable distance are coastal regions which also have potential due to their flatness and high sunlight exposure.

Remember that actual suitability would require further detailed studies considering all relevant factors mentioned above.

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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.

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