Solar PV Analysis of Phalaborwa, South Africa
Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africa, located in the Southern Sub Tropics is a fairly good location for generating energy via solar PV throughout the year. This means that if you install solar panels here, you can expect to get decent electricity output from them in all seasons.
During Summer, each installed kW of solar can generate around 6.04kWh of electricity per day. In Autumn and Spring, this figure drops slightly to about 5.66kWh and 5.75kWh respectively per day. Winter sees the lowest output at around 4.43kWh/day for each kW of installed solar.
So generally speaking, Summer would be the most ideal time for generating solar power at this location due to longer daylight hours and more direct sunlight exposure but other seasons are also quite productive with only a slight drop in energy production.
If you're installing fixed panel installations here, it's best to tilt your panels 23 degrees towards North as it will maximize total yearly production from your solar system by ensuring they are facing directly towards sunlight most times of the year.
As far as environmental or weather factors go that could potentially hinder solar production at this location - Phalaborwa does experience some rainy days especially during summer months which could reduce sunlight exposure on those days resulting in less energy being produced by your panels on such days compared to clear sunny ones.
Preventative measures include regular maintenance like cleaning off any dust or bird droppings that might accumulate over time on your panels as these can block sunlight thus reducing their efficiency; installing a tracking system which automatically adjusts angle of your panels throughout day ensuring maximum exposure to sun; or even having backup batteries/storage systems so excess power generated during peak sunshine hours isn't wasted but stored instead for use during lower production periods like cloudy/rainy days or nights when there's no sun shining.
Overall though given its geographical position and mostly sunny climate year-round barring few rainy days, Phalaborwa presents a fairly ideal location for solar power generation.
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 Phalaborwa
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -23.95, Longitude: 31.1167 (Phalaborwa, 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 23° North in Phalaborwa, South Africa
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Phalaborwa, South Africa (Lat/Long -23.95, 31.1167) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 23° 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 Phalaborwa, 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 Phalaborwa, South Africa. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 23° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8° North in Summer | 30° North in Autumn | 40° North in Winter | 18° 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 Phalaborwa, 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 Phalaborwa, 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 Phalaborwa, South Africa
Phalaborwa is located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, and it's known for its hot semi-arid climate. The topography around Phalaborwa is generally flat with some rolling hills. It's surrounded by bushveld which consists of scrubby grassland with sparse tree coverage.
The area has a good amount of sunlight throughout the year, making it suitable for solar PV installations. Furthermore, given the relatively flat terrain and low vegetation cover, there would be minimal shading on solar panels.
Areas such as farms or other open spaces that have little to no shade would be most suited to large-scale solar PV installations. Additionally, areas close to existing electrical infrastructure (like substations) would also be ideal because they can facilitate easier connection to the grid.
However, before installing any large-scale solar projects, a detailed feasibility study should be conducted considering various factors like land availability and use restrictions, local weather patterns (especially cloud cover), environmental impact assessments etc.
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!
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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Tuesday 18th of June 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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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.
