El Hrairia, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia offers reasonably good conditions for solar photovoltaic energy generation throughout the year, though with significant seasonal variation typical of its Northern Temperate Zone location.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Summer represents the peak solar generation period at El Hrairia, Tunis Governorate, producing 7.34kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. This excellent output makes the summer months ideal for solar energy production. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.98kWh per day per kW, offering strong generation potential as daylight hours increase and solar angles improve. Autumn sees a notable decline to 4.02kWh per day per kW as the sun's angle decreases and weather patterns shift. Winter presents the most challenging period for solar generation, dropping to just 3.01kWh per day per kW of installed capacity.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For maximum year-round solar production at El Hrairia, Tunis Governorate, fixed solar panels should be tilted at 32 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize total annual energy output by accounting for the sun's varying elevation throughout the year and weighting for actual solar irradiance data.

Environmental and Weather Factors

Several local factors could potentially impact solar production at this Tunisian location:

• Dust and Sand Accumulation: Tunisia's proximity to the Sahara Desert means regular dust storms and airborne sand particles can coat solar panels, significantly reducing their efficiency
• Mediterranean Weather Patterns: Autumn and winter months may experience increased cloud cover and precipitation, contributing to the lower seasonal outputs
• Salt Air Corrosion: Being near the Mediterranean coast, salt-laden air can accelerate corrosion of metal components and frames

Preventative Measures

To maximize energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies should be considered: Regular cleaning schedules are essential, ideally automated cleaning systems or frequent manual cleaning to remove dust and sand buildup. Installing panels with anti-reflective and hydrophobic coatings can help reduce dust adherence and make cleaning more effective. Using corrosion-resistant materials and protective coatings on all metal components will combat salt air effects. Proper ventilation spacing between panels and mounting surfaces helps prevent moisture buildup and extends equipment life. Considering tracking systems, while more expensive, could help offset some seasonal variation by following the sun's path throughout the day, particularly beneficial during the lower-output autumn and winter months.

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 53 locations across Tunisia. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.

Link: Solar PV potential in Tunisia by location

Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in El Hrairia

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 36.796, Longitude: 10.1155 (El Hrairia, Tunisia), 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 32° South in El Hrairia, Tunisia

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in El Hrairia, Tunisia (Lat/Long 36.796, 10.1155) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 32° 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 El Hrairia, Tunisia

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 El Hrairia, Tunisia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 32° 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	41° South in Autumn	52° South in Winter	29° 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 El Hrairia, Tunisia

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 El Hrairia, Tunisia.

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 El Hrairia, Tunisia

Topographical Features of El Hrairia

El Hrairia is situated in the northeastern region of Tunisia, positioned within the broader Mediterranean coastal plain that characterizes much of the country's northern territories. The immediate topography around this location consists primarily of gently rolling hills and relatively flat agricultural plains that extend inland from the Mediterranean coastline. The terrain exhibits modest elevation changes, with the landscape gradually rising from the coastal areas toward the interior highlands. The region displays typical Mediterranean basin characteristics, featuring a mosaic of cultivated fields, olive groves, and scattered settlements connected by rural roads. The soil composition in this area consists largely of fertile alluvial deposits and limestone-derived soils, which have historically supported agricultural activities. Small wadis and seasonal drainage channels cut through the landscape, creating subtle undulations in what is otherwise a relatively uniform topographical setting.

Elevation and Terrain Characteristics

The elevation around El Hrairia remains relatively consistent, sitting at moderate heights above sea level without dramatic topographical variations. The terrain slopes gently in multiple directions, creating natural drainage patterns that flow toward the Mediterranean Sea to the northeast. This gradual topography means that significant portions of the surrounding landscape maintain similar solar exposure conditions throughout the day. Rocky outcrops and limestone formations appear intermittently across the region, though these geological features do not dominate the landscape. The predominant terrain consists of sedimentary formations that have been shaped by millennia of Mediterranean climate conditions, resulting in a relatively stable and accessible landscape for potential development projects.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for extensive solar photovoltaic installations would be found on the flatter agricultural plains that extend southwest and southeast of El Hrairia. These areas offer several advantages for solar development, including minimal grading requirements, reduced installation costs, and excellent accessibility for construction and maintenance vehicles. The relatively uniform topography in these directions would allow for efficient panel arrangement and optimal spacing between solar arrays. The southwestern areas present particularly favorable conditions, as the terrain remains consistently flat while being positioned away from the more densely populated coastal zones. This region would minimize conflicts with existing agricultural operations while providing adequate space for large-scale solar farms. The stable geological foundation in these areas would support the structural requirements of extensive solar installations without requiring significant ground preparation. Areas to the southeast also demonstrate strong potential for solar development, offering similar topographical advantages with the added benefit of being positioned along existing transportation corridors. The gentle slopes in this direction would facilitate natural drainage while maintaining optimal panel orientation possibilities. These southeastern zones combine accessible terrain with sufficient distance from residential areas, making them ideal candidates for utility-scale solar projects. The northern areas closer to the Mediterranean coast would be less suitable for large-scale solar development due to higher population density, existing infrastructure, and the potential for coastal environmental considerations. Similarly, areas with more pronounced elevation changes or rocky outcrops would present additional challenges for solar installation and should be avoided in favor of the flatter, more accessible plains.

Citation Guide

Article Details for Citation

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.