Solar PV Analysis of Sutomore, Montenegro
The location at Sutomore, Bar, Montenegro is decent for generating solar energy throughout the year, but it's not perfect. The amount of electricity you can produce from solar panels varies a lot depending on the season.
In simple terms, your solar panels will work best in summer and spring when they can generate 7.13kWh/day and 4.95kWh/day respectively per each kW of installed power (this means that if you have more powerful panels or more of them, you'll get proportionally more energy). Autumn is less productive with an output of 3.40 kWh/day per kW installed and winter is the least productive time with only 1.82 kWh/day per kW installed.
To get the most out of your solar panels all year round in Sutomore, Bar, it's best to tilt them at an angle facing south by about 35 degrees from horizontal level; this way they're pointing towards where the sun shines most directly.
However, there could be some local factors that might affect how well your solar installation performs here - things like weather patterns and environmental conditions are important to consider.
Montenegro has a Mediterranean climate which means it has hot summers and mild winters; while this sounds great for beach holidays it also means there could be periods with cloudy skies or rain which would reduce sunlight reaching your panels especially during autumn/winter months hence lower production levels.
Also keep in mind that dust accumulation on panel surfaces can significantly reduce their efficiency over time so regular cleaning should be included as part of maintenance routine especially considering regional winds known as "bura" that carry dust particles from inland areas towards coastal regions like Sutomore.
Installing tracking systems to follow sun's path across sky might help improve yield during less sunny seasons but these come with additional costs so careful cost-benefit analysis would need to be done beforehand.
Finally remember that any large buildings or trees nearby could potentially cast shadows onto your panels at certain times of day or year, so placement of your solar installation should take this into account where possible.
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 9 locations across Montenegro. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Montenegro by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Sutomore
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 42.1362, Longitude: 19.0498 (Sutomore, Montenegro), 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 35° South in Sutomore, Montenegro
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Sutomore, Montenegro (Lat/Long 42.1362, 19.0498) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 35° 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 Sutomore, Montenegro
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 Sutomore, Montenegro. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 35° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26° South in Summer | 46° South in Autumn | 56° South in Winter | 34° 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 Sutomore, Montenegro
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 Sutomore, Montenegro.
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 Sutomore, Montenegro
Sutomore, Montenegro is located on the Adriatic Sea and is surrounded by hilly and mountainous terrain. The area has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters which makes it suitable for solar PV installations.
The topography around Sutomore includes coastal plains near the sea transitioning into rolling hills and mountains as one moves inland. This landscape provides multiple options for large-scale solar PV installations.
1. Coastal Plains: These areas are relatively flat and close to infrastructure, making them ideal for ground-mounted solar arrays. However, land use conflicts with agriculture or development may be an issue.
2. Hillsides: Solar panels can be installed on south-facing slopes to maximize sun exposure. This can be an effective way to utilize hilly terrain that may not be suitable for other uses.
3. Rooftops: In urbanized areas of Sutomore, rooftops could provide ample space for smaller-scale distributed solar power generation.
4. Mountainous Areas: While they pose more construction challenges due to their ruggedness and potential distance from existing infrastructure (like roads or transmission lines), these areas could still host larger scale installations especially if there's a way to connect them efficiently to the grid system.
For specific site selection within these general categories, considerations would include factors like local weather patterns (to ensure sufficient sun), proximity to electrical grid connections, land ownership/availability/costs, environmental impacts among others.
It's also important note that any large-scale project would likely require detailed feasibility studies including site surveys and potentially environmental assessments depending on local regulations in Montenegro.
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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Tuesday 9th of July 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.
