Daan, Taipei City, Taiwan, situated in the Northern Sub Tropics at coordinates 25.0316, 121.5345, offers a moderately favorable location for solar PV energy generation throughout the year, though with significant seasonal variations.

Solar energy production in Daan follows a predictable seasonal pattern. Summer stands out as the most productive season, yielding approximately 6.23kWh of electricity daily per kW of installed capacity. Spring and autumn provide moderate generation at 4.50kWh/day and 4.22kWh/day respectively. Winter experiences the lowest output at just 2.81kWh/day, less than half of summer's production.

For fixed solar panel installations in this location, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 20 degrees facing South. This specific angle has been calculated to optimize annual solar collection based on Daan's geographical position.

Environmental Challenges

Several environmental factors in Daan can potentially impact solar energy production. Taiwan's subtropical climate brings significant challenges that should be considered when planning a solar installation:

• Typhoons and strong winds occur regularly, particularly from July to October, which can physically damage panels if not securely mounted
• Heavy monsoon rains may temporarily reduce production and can cause water damage if installations aren't properly sealed
• High humidity levels (often exceeding 80%) can accelerate corrosion of mounting hardware and electrical components
• Urban air pollution in the greater Taipei area can create a thin film on panels, gradually reducing efficiency

To mitigate these challenges, solar installations in Daan should incorporate typhoon-resistant mounting systems with reinforced frames. Regular cleaning schedules are essential to remove pollution buildup, while marine-grade components should be used to resist corrosion from the high humidity. Additionally, installing micro-inverters rather than string inverters can minimize production losses during partial shading conditions that occur during Taiwan's frequent cloudy periods.

Despite these challenges, Daan's location still provides sufficient solar resource to make PV installations worthwhile, especially during the highly productive summer months when electricity demand for cooling is also at its peak.

Note: The Northern Sub Tropics extend from 23.5° latitude North up to 35° latitude.

So far, we have conducted calculations to evaluate the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in 40 locations across Taiwan. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.

Link: Solar PV potential in Taiwan by location

Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Daan

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 25.0316, Longitude: 121.5345 (Daan, Taiwan), 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 20° South in Daan, Taiwan

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Daan, Taiwan (Lat/Long 25.0316, 121.5345) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 20° 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 Daan, Taiwan

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 Daan, Taiwan. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 20° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
9° South in Summer	28° South in Autumn	39° South in Winter	17° 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 Daan, Taiwan

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 Daan, Taiwan.

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 Daan, Taiwan

Daan District is situated in the heart of Taipei City, Taiwan, nestled within a basin surrounded by mountains. The topography of this area is characterized by a relatively flat urban landscape that sits within the broader Taipei Basin, which is encircled by mountains on all sides except for the north where the Tamsui River flows toward the Taiwan Strait.

Surrounding Terrain

The terrain around Daan gradually transitions from the flat urban setting to more elevated areas as one moves away from the city center. To the east lie the Nangang Mountains, while the Yangmingshan massif dominates the northern horizon beyond the Tamsui River. The western edge of Taipei City meets the Linkou Plateau, and the southern boundary is defined by the Xindian River with hills rising beyond. Within this metropolitan area, Daan itself maintains a consistent low elevation typical of developed urban centers, with minimal natural topographical variation. The district is primarily composed of densely packed buildings, roads, and small parks, with Daan Forest Park being the largest green space in the vicinity.

Potential for Solar PV Development

When considering areas near Daan that might be suited for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, several factors beyond just topography must be considered, including land availability, access to transmission infrastructure, and environmental impact. The densely populated urban environment of Daan itself offers limited opportunities for ground-mounted solar arrays. However, rooftop solar installations across the numerous buildings present a significant distributed generation potential. The flat rooftops of commercial buildings, schools, and government facilities throughout the district could collectively contribute substantial solar capacity. For larger scale solar PV development, the peripheral regions of Taipei City would be more suitable. The gentler slopes of the foothills surrounding the basin, particularly in less developed areas to the south and southeast of Taipei, offer more promising terrain for solar farms. These areas benefit from elevated positions with good exposure to sunlight while being close enough to the urban center for efficient power transmission. The former industrial zones along the western edges of Taipei City, where land is being repurposed, could also provide suitable locations for solar development. These brownfield sites typically offer flat terrain and existing electrical infrastructure connections.

Topographical Challenges

Despite these opportunities, the region's topography does present certain challenges for solar development. The mountains surrounding Taipei can cast shadows during different parts of the day, potentially reducing the efficiency of solar installations in some locations. Additionally, Taiwan's susceptibility to typhoons means that any solar installation must be engineered to withstand strong winds, particularly in more exposed elevated locations. The region's high humidity and frequent rainfall, influenced by the mountainous topography that captures moisture-laden air from the ocean, can also impact solar panel efficiency and necessitate more frequent maintenance.

Conclusion

While Daan itself may not be ideal for large-scale solar PV due to its urban density and limited open space, the broader Taipei Basin and its periphery offer various opportunities for solar development. The most promising areas would be the repurposed industrial zones, large institutional rooftops, and the gentler slopes of the surrounding foothills, particularly to the south and southeast where there is less urban development and good solar exposure. Any development would need to carefully consider the unique topographical and climatic conditions of this mountainous island region.

Taiwan solar PV Stats as a country

Taiwan ranks 17th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 7,700 total MW's of solar PV installed. Each year Taiwan is generating 327 Watts from solar PV per capita (Taiwan ranks 12th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]

Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Taiwan?

Yes, there are incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Taiwan. The Taiwanese government offers a number of financial incentives and subsidies for businesses that install solar energy systems. These include tax credits, grants, low-interest loans, and feed-in tariffs. Additionally, the government has implemented a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) system which allows businesses to trade renewable energy certificates with other companies or organizations in order to receive additional financial benefits.

Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Taiwan? 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.