Solar Energy Potential in Burauen, Eastern Visayas, Philippines

Burauen, Eastern Visayas, Philippines, located at latitude 10.9697, longitude 124.8964, offers a promising environment for solar energy generation throughout the year. This tropical location benefits from relatively consistent sunlight patterns, though there are notable seasonal variations in energy production. The solar energy output in Burauen follows a seasonal pattern, with spring being the most productive season. During spring months, each kilowatt of installed solar capacity can generate approximately 6.22 kWh per day. Summer follows with 5.84 kWh per day, while autumn produces about 5.15 kWh per day. Winter represents the least productive period, with 4.37 kWh per day, though this output is still considerable compared to non-tropical regions. For residents and businesses in Burauen considering solar installation, it's worth noting that for fixed panel installations, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 9 degrees facing South. This specific angle has been calculated to optimize solar capture throughout the year based on Burauen's particular latitude and local solar conditions.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several environmental factors could potentially impact solar production in Burauen. The Philippines experiences a tropical monsoon climate, which brings significant considerations for solar installations:

• Typhoons and strong storms are common in the region, particularly during the wet season (typically June to November). These weather events can physically damage solar panels if they're not properly secured.
• Heavy cloud cover during the rainy season can temporarily reduce solar output, explaining the lower production figures during the winter months.
• High humidity levels can accelerate corrosion of mounting hardware and electrical components if not properly protected.

To mitigate these challenges, solar installations in Burauen should incorporate typhoon-resistant mounting systems with reinforced frames and foundations. Marine-grade stainless steel hardware and properly sealed junction boxes will help prevent corrosion from the humid tropical environment. Additionally, implementing a regular cleaning schedule will prevent buildup of dust, salt spray, and organic matter that can accumulate during dry periods and reduce panel efficiency. Despite these challenges, Burauen's location still offers excellent solar potential throughout the year, with even the least productive season providing reasonable energy generation capabilities. With proper installation techniques addressing the local environmental factors, solar energy remains a viable and sustainable energy option for this Philippine location.

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 268 locations across Philippines. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.

Link: Solar PV potential in Philippines by location

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

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 10.9697, Longitude: 124.8964 (Burauen, Philippines), 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 9° South in Burauen, Philippines

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Burauen, Philippines (Lat/Long 10.9697, 124.8964) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 9° 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 Burauen, Philippines

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 Burauen, Philippines. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 9° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
5° North in Summer	17° South in Autumn	26° South in Winter	5° 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 Burauen, Philippines

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 Burauen, Philippines.

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 Burauen, Philippines

Burauen is situated in the eastern part of Leyte Island in the Philippines, approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Tacloban City. The topography around Burauen is characterized by a diverse landscape that transitions from coastal lowlands in the east to rolling hills and eventually mountainous terrain as one moves westward. The eastern portions of Burauen feature relatively flat to gently undulating terrain, with elevations typically ranging from near sea level to about 100 meters. This area is part of the Leyte Valley, a broad expanse of fertile land that stretches across much of eastern Leyte. The soil here is generally alluvial, deposited over centuries by the numerous streams and rivers that flow from the highlands.

Central and Western Terrain

As one moves toward the central and western sections of the municipality, the landscape becomes progressively more rugged. The central area features rolling hills with moderate slopes, while the western portion rises more dramatically into the foothills of the central Leyte mountain range. These western highlands reach elevations of approximately 500-800 meters above sea level. The terrain is dissected by several river systems, including tributaries of the Binahaan River, which create valleys between the hilly and mountainous areas. These waterways have carved natural drainage patterns throughout the region, resulting in a landscape of alternating ridges and valleys.

Solar PV Potential Areas

For large-scale solar photovoltaic development, the most suitable areas would be the eastern and southeastern portions of Burauen, where the terrain is relatively flat to gently sloping. These areas offer several advantages: The eastern lowlands provide extensive open spaces with minimal shading from topographical features. The gentle slopes in this region, typically less than 5 degrees, are ideal for solar array installation as they minimize construction complexity and maximize solar exposure throughout the day. Specifically, the areas extending from the eastern parts of Burauen toward the neighboring municipalities of Dagami and Julita offer promising locations. These areas feature adequate land that isn't heavily forested, with good accessibility via existing road networks, which would facilitate construction and maintenance of solar facilities. The central areas with rolling hills present moderate potential for solar development, though they would require more site preparation and potentially result in somewhat reduced efficiency due to varying slope orientations. These areas might be considered as secondary options if the flatter eastern lands are unavailable or insufficient. The western mountainous regions, however, are generally unsuitable for large-scale solar developments due to steep slopes, potential shading issues, and more difficult access for construction and maintenance equipment. Additionally, these highland areas often experience more cloud cover and precipitation, which would reduce solar generation potential.

Considerations Beyond Topography

While topography strongly favors the eastern lowlands for solar development, other factors should be considered alongside terrain characteristics. The eastern areas are primarily agricultural, with rice cultivation being particularly important to the local economy. This presents potential land-use conflicts that would need to be addressed through careful planning. The proximity to existing electrical infrastructure is another important consideration. The eastern areas of Burauen are generally closer to major transmission lines that could accommodate the integration of new generation capacity, reducing the need for extensive new transmission infrastructure. Natural hazard exposure varies across the region as well. The eastern lowlands may have higher flood risk during typhoon season, while the western highlands face greater landslide potential. Any large-scale solar development would need appropriate engineering measures to address these location-specific risks.

Philippines solar PV Stats as a country

Philippines ranks 40th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 1,370 total MW's of solar PV installed. Each year Philippines is generating 13 Watts from solar PV per capita (Philippines ranks 71st in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]

Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Philippines?

Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in the Philippines. These include:

1. The Feed-in Tariff (FiT) program, which provides a guaranteed rate of return on investments in renewable energy projects;

2. Tax credits and exemptions from certain taxes;

3. Net metering programs that allow businesses to sell excess electricity back to the grid;

4. Grants and loans from government agencies such as the Department of Energy and the Philippine Solar Power Alliance;

5. Technical assistance from organizations like USAID’s Clean Energy Program; and

6. Access to financing through banks, venture capital firms, or other sources of private capital.

Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Philippines? 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.

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