Solar PV Analysis of Jecheon, South Korea
The location at Jecheon, North Chungcheong, South Korea is suitable for generating energy through solar PV systems throughout the year. The electricity output per kW of installed solar varies with each season but remains productive.
During summer and spring, the system can generate about 5.25kWh/day and 5.23kWh/day respectively, which are the highest outputs in a year. This makes these two seasons ideal times to generate solar energy at this location because longer daylight hours result in more sunlight for solar panels to convert into electricity.
In autumn and winter, although there's less sunlight due to shorter days, you can still expect a decent amount of energy production: around 3.54kWh/day in autumn and approximately 3.08 kWh/day in winter.
For maximum yearly production from your solar PV system installed at this location, it would be best to tilt your panels towards south by an angle of about 34 degrees - that way they'll catch as much sunlight as possible over the course of a year.
As for environmental or weather factors that might hinder your solar production here: South Korea has a monsoon season which typically starts from June until mid-July where heavy rainfalls occur which could reduce the amount of sunlight reaching your panels therefore decreasing their productivity during this period. Additionally, dust storms from China often reach Korean Peninsula especially during springtime; these dust particles can accumulate on panel surfaces blocking some sunlight hence reducing their efficiency.
To counter these issues:
1) You could install an automated cleaning system or manually clean them regularly especially after dust storms or heavy rainfall periods.
2) It may also be worth considering having adjustable-tilt panel installations so you can change their angles according to seasonal variations in sun’s path.
3) To mitigate effects of cloudy or rainy days consider installing battery storage systems; excess power generated on sunny days would be stored and used when sunshine is not optimal.
4) Also ensure regular maintenance checks are conducted to ensure the system is running at its best efficiency.
In conclusion, while there are certain challenges, with proper planning and maintenance, Jecheon can be a good location for solar PV energy production year-round.
Note: The Northern Temperate Zone extends from 35° latitude North up to 66.5° latitude.
So far, we have conducted calculations to evaluate the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in 124 locations across South Korea. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in South Korea by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Jecheon
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 37.14, Longitude: 128.2106 (Jecheon, South Korea), 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 34° South in Jecheon, South Korea
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Jecheon, South Korea (Lat/Long 37.14, 128.2106) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 34° 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 Jecheon, South Korea
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 Jecheon, South Korea. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 34° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21° South in Summer | 42° South in Autumn | 52° South in Winter | 30° 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 Jecheon, South Korea
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 Jecheon, South Korea.
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 Jecheon, South Korea
Jecheon, South Korea is located in the central part of the country and is characterized by a mix of mountainous and flat terrain. It's surrounded by several mountains such as Mt. Sobeak to its east, Mt. Worak to its west, and Mt. Songni to its south.
The region has a considerable amount of forested areas due to the high concentration of mountains, which may not be suitable for large-scale solar PV installations because they would require significant land clearing.
However, there are also some relatively flat areas around Jecheon that could potentially be suitable for solar PV installations like agricultural lands or unused industrial sites if they're not being utilized for other purposes.
In addition, rooftops of buildings in urban parts of Jecheon can also be considered for smaller scale solar panel installation.
For large-scale solar PV projects though, you'd ideally want open and flat spaces with minimal shading (for maximum sun exposure) and close proximity to transmission lines (for ease of connecting the generated power into the grid).
It’s important to note that suitability will also depend on other factors such as local weather patterns (solar irradiance), land ownership rights issues, environmental impact considerations among others.
A detailed site survey along with local government consultation would provide more accurate information about potential sites' suitability.
South Korea solar PV Stats as a country
South Korea ranks 8th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 18,161 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 3.80% of South Korea's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 21st in the world). Each year South Korea is generating 350 Watts from solar PV per capita (South Korea ranks 9th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in South Korea?
Yes, there are incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in South Korea. The Korean government offers a variety of financial incentives and subsidies for businesses that install solar energy systems. These include tax credits, grants, loans, and other forms of support. Additionally, the government has implemented a feed-in tariff system which guarantees a fixed price for electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar power. This helps to make the installation of solar energy systems more attractive to businesses by providing them with a guaranteed return on their investment.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in South Korea? 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: Thursday 2nd 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.
