Solar PV Analysis of Kempton Park, South Africa
Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa is a pretty good place for generating solar energy throughout the year. The amount of electricity you can get from each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar panels varies by season, but it's always decent. In summer, you'd typically get around 6.26 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kW of solar panels you have. In autumn, that drops a bit to about 5.78 kWh/day per kW; in winter it goes down more to around 4.82 kWh/day per kW; and in spring it jumps up to about 7.01 kWh/day per kW.
So if we look at these numbers, spring would be the best time of year for generating solar power at this location because that's when your panels will produce the most electricity on average each day.
If you're installing fixed panel solar installation here, tilting your panels at an angle of 25 degrees towards North will help maximize how much electricity they generate over the course of a year.
There could be some local factors that might affect how well your solar setup works though - things like weather or environmental conditions. For instance, Kempton Park does experience occasional hail storms which could potentially damage unprotected panels so protective measures should be considered during installation such as sturdy mounts or covers.
Also dust and dirt accumulation on the surfaces can reduce their efficiency over time so regular cleaning should also factor into maintenance plans.
Overall though considering its sunny climate most parts of the year and with appropriate preventive measures taken during installation and maintenance phase Kempton Park is quite suitable for harnessing Solar Energy efficiently.
Note: The Southern Sub Tropics extend from -23.5° latitude South down to -35° latitude.
So far, we have conducted calculations to evaluate the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in 196 locations across South Africa. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in South Africa by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Kempton Park
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -26.1044, Longitude: 28.2521 (Kempton Park, South Africa), 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 25° North in Kempton Park, South Africa
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Kempton Park, South Africa (Lat/Long -26.1044, 28.2521) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 25° North 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 Kempton Park, South Africa
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 Kempton Park, South Africa. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 25° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10° North in Summer | 32° North in Autumn | 42° North in Winter | 20° North 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 Kempton Park, South Africa
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 Kempton Park, South Africa.
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 Kempton Park, South Africa
Kempton Park is located in the Gauteng province of South Africa, which is largely a plateau region with an average elevation of about 1,500 meters above sea level. The area around Kempton Park is relatively flat with some rolling hills. It's part of the Highveld, a high-altitude grassland.
When it comes to large-scale solar PV installations, flat and open terrains are ideal as they allow for easier installation and maintenance while maximizing exposure to sunlight. Therefore, any expansive open areas around Kempton Park would be potentially suitable for such projects.
However, the suitability also depends on other factors like local climate (amount of sunshine), land use restrictions and availability, proximity to power grids for easy transmission etc., which need further detailed study.
In terms of specific nearby locations that may be suited for large-scale solar PV installations based on topography alone - regions towards the east and south-east of Kempton park seem flatter according to topographic maps. Areas near Bapsfontein or Delmas could potentially be suitable given their relatively flat landscape but this should be validated with more detailed feasibility studies including all necessary technical considerations.
Remember that South Africa has good solar irradiance levels overall making it generally favorable for Solar PV projects across many parts of the country.
South Africa solar PV Stats as a country
South Africa ranks 21st in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 6,221 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 2.00% of South Africa's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 34th in the world). Each year South Africa is generating 105 Watts from solar PV per capita (South Africa ranks 38th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in South Africa?
Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in South Africa. The government offers a range of financial incentives and tax breaks for businesses that invest in renewable energy projects. These include the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) program, which provides long-term contracts with guaranteed prices for electricity generated from renewable sources; the Accelerated Depreciation Allowance (ADA), which allows businesses to deduct up to 50% of their capital expenditure on renewable energy projects from their taxable income; and the Small Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) program, which provides financial support for small-scale solar installations. Additionally, some local governments offer grants or subsidies to help offset the cost of installing solar systems.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in South Africa? 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: Wednesday 22nd of May 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.
