Solar PV Analysis of Santo Tomas, Philippines
Santo Tomas, Calabarzon, Philippines is a great location for generating solar energy all year round due to its tropical climate. The sunlight is consistent throughout most of the year and the seasons are often characterised by wet and dry periods rather than significant changes in sunlight.
To give you an idea of how much energy can be generated, for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed, you can expect to generate 5.18 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in Summer, 4.40 kWh/day in Autumn, 3.98 kWh/day in Winter, and a whopping 6.17 kWh/day in Spring.
The best time to generate solar at this location would be during Spring when daily production is at its peak; however, even during Winter which has the lowest daily production rate it's still quite good compared to many other locations worldwide.
If you're thinking about installing fixed panel solar PV system here, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 12 degrees towards the South for maximum yearly energy production.
As far as environmental or local factors that could impede solar production go - like any other place with a tropical climate Santo Tomas gets quite a bit of rain especially during monsoon season which might reduce the amount of sunlight reaching your panels hence reducing their output temporarily. There's also potential for dust accumulation on panels which can affect their efficiency over time if not cleaned regularly.
To counter these issues make sure your panel installation includes an easy way to clean them periodically and if possible install them somewhere where they are less likely to get covered by fallen leaves or bird droppings etc., which could also block sunlight from reaching them effectively reducing their output.
In summary Santo Tomas offers excellent conditions for generating electricity through Solar PV systems all year round with some minor challenges that can be easily managed with proper planning and maintenance.
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 Santo Tomas
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 14.0099, Longitude: 121.024 (Santo Tomas, 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 12° South in Santo Tomas, Philippines
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Santo Tomas, Philippines (Lat/Long 14.0099, 121.024) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 12° 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 Santo Tomas, 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 Santo Tomas, Philippines. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 12° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2° North in Summer | 20° South in Autumn | 29° South in Winter | 7° 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 Santo Tomas, 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 Santo Tomas, Philippines.
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 Santo Tomas, Philippines
Santo Tomas, Philippines is located in the province of Batangas. The topography in this area is characterized by a combination of flat lowlands, rolling hills, and mountains. The town itself is situated on relatively flat land which gradually slopes upwards towards the north where there are more hilly and mountainous areas.
The region experiences a tropical climate with high levels of sunlight throughout the year making it suitable for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. However, the specific suitability for large-scale solar PV would depend on various factors such as land availability, land use restrictions, proximity to power transmission lines among others.
Areas that are flat and expansive would be most suitable for large-scale solar PV installations as they offer ample space for setting up solar panels and associated equipment. These could potentially include agricultural lands or unused open spaces that have good sun exposure throughout the day.
In terms of specific nearby areas suited to large-scale solar PV installations:
1. Flat agricultural lands around Santo Tomas: Given their relative flatness and exposure to sunlight, these could potentially be converted into solar farms if not being actively used for agriculture.
2. Unused industrial lands: If there are any unused or abandoned industrial sites near Santo Tomas with minimal shading throughout the day, they might also be suitable locations.
3. Rooftops in urban areas: While not "large-scale" in comparison to ground-mounted systems on open lands, utilizing rooftops of buildings within Santo Tomas can also contribute significantly towards renewable energy generation.
It's important to note though that any such development should consider potential impacts on local ecosystems and communities along with relevant legal regulations before proceeding with installation plans.
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!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Saturday 6th of January 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
Tell Us About Your Work
We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.
Feeling generous?
Share this with your friends!
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.
