San Fernando, Ilocos, Philippines, located in the tropics, offers a promising environment for solar energy generation throughout the year. This location benefits from consistent sunlight and experiences wet and dry seasons rather than traditional four-season cycles.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this location remains relatively stable across seasons, with a notable peak during spring. Here's a breakdown of the expected daily electricity output per kilowatt of installed solar capacity:

• Spring: 6.98 kWh/day
• Summer: 5.50 kWh/day
• Autumn: 5.45 kWh/day
• Winter: 5.12 kWh/day

Spring emerges as the most productive season, likely due to clearer skies and optimal sun angles. The other seasons maintain a consistent output, with only slight variations.

Optimal Panel Tilt

For fixed panel installations in San Fernando, Ilocos, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round solar production is 15 degrees facing South. This angle is calculated based on the location's latitude and accounts for the Earth's elliptical orbit and daily solar elevation angles.

Environmental Considerations

While San Fernando's tropical climate is generally favorable for solar energy production, there are some environmental factors to consider:

Typhoons and Heavy Rainfall

The Philippines is prone to typhoons, which can bring strong winds and heavy rainfall. To mitigate risks, solar installations should use high-quality, wind-resistant mounting systems and panels rated for high wind loads. Additionally, proper waterproofing and drainage systems are crucial to prevent water damage.

High Humidity

The tropical climate means high humidity levels, which can lead to corrosion of solar equipment over time. Using corrosion-resistant materials and applying protective coatings can help extend the lifespan of the solar installation.

Cloud Cover During Wet Season

While sunlight is generally consistent, the wet season may bring increased cloud cover, potentially reducing solar output. Implementing a slightly oversized system can help compensate for these periods of reduced production. By addressing these environmental factors through proper planning and installation techniques, San Fernando can effectively harness its solar potential and benefit from clean, renewable energy throughout the year.

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 257 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 San Fernando

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 16.6204, Longitude: 120.3131 (San Fernando, 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 15° South in San Fernando, Philippines

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in San Fernando, Philippines (Lat/Long 16.6204, 120.3131) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 15° 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 San Fernando, 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 San Fernando, Philippines. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 15° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
0° in Summer	23° South in Autumn	32° South in Winter	10° 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 San Fernando, 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 San Fernando, 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 San Fernando, Philippines

The topography around San Fernando, Philippines, is characterized by a diverse landscape that includes coastal plains, rolling hills, and mountainous regions. Located in the province of La Union on the western coast of Luzon island, San Fernando is situated where the lowlands meet the foothills of the Cordillera Central mountain range. Immediately surrounding the city, the terrain is relatively flat, with gentle slopes and low-lying areas that gradually rise as one moves inland. This coastal plain is ideal for agriculture and urban development. As you travel east from San Fernando, the landscape becomes more undulating, with hills and valleys creating a picturesque backdrop.

Mountainous Terrain

Further inland, the terrain becomes increasingly rugged as it transitions into the Cordillera Central mountains. These mountains, which form the spine of northern Luzon, feature steep slopes, deep valleys, and forested areas. The elevation rises significantly in this region, with some peaks reaching several thousand feet above sea level.

River Systems

The area around San Fernando is also characterized by several river systems that flow from the mountains to the sea. These rivers have carved valleys and created alluvial plains, contributing to the region's fertile soil and agricultural productivity.

Potential for Solar PV

When considering areas nearby that would be most suited to large-scale solar PV installations, several factors come into play. The ideal locations would have ample sunshine, relatively flat terrain, and be away from densely populated areas or ecologically sensitive zones. The coastal plains and gently rolling hills to the east and southeast of San Fernando offer promising potential for solar PV development. These areas typically receive abundant sunlight and have sufficient open space for large installations. The slightly elevated terrain can also help minimize shading from surrounding landscape features. Another suitable area might be found in the broader valleys between the foothills of the Cordillera Central, where there are expanses of land that are not prime agricultural areas. These locations could provide the necessary space for solar farms while being close enough to existing infrastructure for energy distribution. It's important to note that any large-scale solar PV project would require detailed site-specific assessments, considering factors such as local climate patterns, land ownership, grid connectivity, and environmental impact. The ultimate selection of sites would need to balance these factors with the region's energy needs and development goals.

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.

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.