Solar PV Analysis of Giriulla, Sri Lanka
Giriulla, Western Province, Sri Lanka is a good location for year-round solar energy generation due to its tropical climate where sunlight is consistent throughout most of the year. The amount of electricity that can be produced from each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar varies slightly by season: Summer generates 5.89 kilowatt hours per day (kWh/day), Autumn produces 5.09 kWh/day, Winter provides 5.71 kWh/day, and Spring offers the highest at 6.23 kWh/day.
This means that while you can generate electricity all year round, Spring would be the best time for solar energy production because it has the highest daily output rate. However, even in Autumn which has the lowest rate, you still get a substantial amount of power.
When installing solar panels in Giriulla, Western Province, it's recommended to tilt them at an angle of 6 degrees towards the South for optimal performance throughout the year.
As far as potential hindrances to solar production go in this region - there aren't any major ones since this area enjoys plentiful sunshine almost all-year-round thanks to its tropical location near equator with only wet and dry seasons rather than traditional four seasons seen elsewhere in world.
However one possible issue could be cloud cover or heavy rainfall during monsoon season which might reduce sunlight exposure temporarily but overall impact wouldn't significantly affect annual output considering other times when sun shines brightly over long durations consistently across different months.
To mitigate this minor challenge related to weather conditions during rainy periods; ensure your system includes high-quality panels known for their efficiency even under less-than-ideal light conditions and consider having a battery storage solution so excess power generated during sunny days can be stored and used when needed on cloudy or rainy days.
In summary, Giriulla is a highly suitable location for generating solar energy with minimal local factors impeding production as long as appropriate installation methods are followed including right panel orientation and possibly incorporating battery storage for rainy day backup.
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 109 locations across Sri Lanka. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Sri Lanka by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Giriulla
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 7.3237, Longitude: 80.1266 (Giriulla, Sri Lanka), 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 6° South in Giriulla, Sri Lanka
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Giriulla, Sri Lanka (Lat/Long 7.3237, 80.1266) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 6° 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 Giriulla, Sri Lanka
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 Giriulla, Sri Lanka. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 6° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9° North in Summer | 13° South in Autumn | 23° South in Winter | 1° 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 Giriulla, Sri Lanka
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 Giriulla, Sri Lanka.
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 Giriulla, Sri Lanka
Giriulla is located in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka. The topography around Giriulla is primarily flat to rolling plains, with some hilly areas. The region experiences a tropical climate with high temperatures and humidity levels throughout the year, and it receives abundant sunlight due to its equatorial location.
The most suitable areas for large-scale solar PV installations would be those with minimal shading from trees or other structures, flat or gently sloping terrain for easy installation and maintenance of solar panels, and close proximity to power grids for efficient transmission of electricity.
Given these considerations, the expansive flatlands surrounding Giriulla could potentially be ideal locations for large-scale solar PV installations. However, a detailed site-specific assessment would need to be conducted to confirm this as factors such as land use patterns (agriculture, residential etc.), local regulations on land use change and specific geographical features can impact feasibility.
It's also worth noting that Sri Lanka has several existing large scale solar power projects in operation including the Baruthankanda Solar Power Station which indicates potential suitability of similar regions for such developments.
Sri Lanka solar PV Stats as a country
Sri Lanka ranks 55th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 434 total MW's of solar PV installed. Each year Sri Lanka is generating 20 Watts from solar PV per capita (Sri Lanka ranks 66th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Sri Lanka?
Yes, there are incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Sri Lanka. The government of Sri Lanka has implemented a number of policies and programs to promote the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power. These include tax exemptions, subsidies, and other financial incentives for businesses that install solar systems. Additionally, the government has set up a Renewable Energy Fund which provides grants to support research and development activities related to renewable energy technologies.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Sri Lanka? 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: Tuesday 25th of June 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.
