Tacloban City, Eastern Visayas, Philippines, located at 11.2405° N, 125.0075° E, presents a generally favorable environment for solar energy production throughout the year. This tropical location benefits from consistent sunlight, with seasons primarily characterized by wet and dry periods rather than significant temperature variations.

Seasonal Solar Production

Solar energy generation in Tacloban City shows some variation across seasons, but remains relatively strong year-round. Spring stands out as the most productive season, with an impressive 6.02 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Summer follows closely behind at 5.86 kWh/day, while autumn sees a slight decrease to 4.80 kWh/day. Winter, although the least productive season, still maintains a respectable output of 4.06 kWh/day.

Optimal Panel Positioning

For fixed solar panel installations in Tacloban City, Eastern Visayas, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 9 degrees facing South. This relatively shallow angle reflects the city's proximity to the equator, allowing panels to capture sunlight efficiently throughout the year.

Environmental Considerations

While Tacloban City's location is generally conducive to solar energy production, there are some environmental factors to consider. The region experiences a tropical climate with a pronounced rainy season, typically from November to January. During these months, increased cloud cover and rainfall may temporarily reduce solar panel efficiency.

Additionally, Tacloban City is vulnerable to tropical cyclones, which can pose a risk to solar installations. To mitigate these challenges, several preventative measures can be implemented:

• Use corrosion-resistant materials and robust mounting systems to withstand heavy rains and strong winds
• Install adequate drainage systems to prevent water accumulation on panels
• Regularly clean panels to remove salt spray deposits, which are common in coastal areas
• Implement a comprehensive maintenance schedule to ensure optimal performance and longevity of the solar system

By addressing these factors, solar installations in Tacloban City can maintain high levels of energy production throughout the year, capitalizing on the location's abundant sunlight and favorable conditions for renewable energy generation.

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 Tacloban City

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 11.2405, Longitude: 125.0075 (Tacloban City, 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 Tacloban City, Philippines

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Tacloban City, Philippines (Lat/Long 11.2405, 125.0075) 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 Tacloban City, 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 Tacloban City, 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 Tacloban City, 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 Tacloban City, 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 Tacloban City, Philippines

Tacloban City, located on the eastern coast of Leyte Island in the Philippines, is characterized by a diverse topography that includes both coastal plains and hilly terrain. The city itself is situated on a relatively flat coastal area, with the Cancabato Bay to its east and the San Juanico Strait to its north. As one moves inland from the coast, the landscape gradually transitions into rolling hills and low mountains. To the west of Tacloban City, the terrain becomes more elevated, with the Leyte Mountain Range dominating the landscape. These mountains, while not particularly high, provide a stark contrast to the coastal plains and create a natural barrier between the eastern and western parts of Leyte Island. The hills and mountains are generally covered in lush vegetation, typical of the tropical climate in this region.

Potential Areas for Large-Scale Solar PV

When considering areas suitable for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations near Tacloban City, several factors come into play. The ideal locations would be relatively flat, receive ample sunlight throughout the year, and have minimal risk of flooding or other natural disasters. The coastal plains to the south of Tacloban City offer promising potential for solar PV development. These areas are generally flat, which makes construction and maintenance easier. They also tend to have fewer obstructions that could cast shadows on solar panels, maximizing sunlight exposure. However, care must be taken to ensure that any installations are sufficiently elevated to protect against potential storm surges or flooding, given the region's vulnerability to typhoons. Another suitable area for solar PV development could be the gently sloping hillsides to the west of the city. These locations may offer a good balance between elevation (reducing flood risk) and accessibility. The slightly inclined terrain could actually be advantageous, as it allows for optimal panel positioning to capture sunlight. However, developers would need to carefully consider factors such as soil stability and erosion control in these areas. It's worth noting that while the higher mountain areas receive plenty of sunlight, they may not be ideal for large-scale solar installations due to the challenges of construction and maintenance in steep terrain. Additionally, these areas often have denser vegetation, which would require significant clearing, potentially leading to environmental concerns. In all cases, thorough site assessments would be necessary to determine the most suitable locations for solar PV development. These assessments would need to consider not only topography and sunlight exposure but also factors such as proximity to existing power infrastructure, land ownership, and potential environmental impacts.

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.