Er Regueb, Sidi Bouzid Governorate, Tunisia represents a highly favorable location for year-round solar photovoltaic energy generation. This Northern Sub Tropics location at coordinates 34.859°N, 9.7902°E demonstrates strong solar production potential across all seasons, with particularly excellent performance during the warmer months.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The location shows impressive energy output variations throughout the year. Summer delivers the highest production at 8.08 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the ideal time for maximum energy generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 6.76 kWh per day per kW, offering excellent production levels as daylight hours increase and sun angles improve. Autumn maintains decent production at 4.94 kWh per day per kW, while winter represents the lowest output period at 3.82 kWh per day per kW. Despite winter being the weakest season, the production levels remain reasonably good for year-round energy needs, indicating consistent solar resource availability even during the least favorable months.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For fixed panel installations at Er Regueb, Sidi Bouzid Governorate, the ideal tilt angle is 30 degrees facing South to maximize total year-round solar production. This angle has been calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles at this latitude, determining optimal panel positioning, and weighting these angles according to photovoltaic potential using solar irradiance data while accounting for Earth's elliptical orbit.

Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several local factors could potentially impact solar energy production at this Tunisian location, though most can be effectively managed with proper installation techniques. **Dust and Sand Accumulation**: The North African desert environment means regular dust storms and sand deposition can significantly reduce panel efficiency by blocking sunlight. Sand particles can also cause micro-scratches on panel surfaces over time, permanently reducing output. **Extreme Heat**: While abundant sunshine is beneficial, excessive heat during summer months can actually decrease panel efficiency, as photovoltaic cells typically lose efficiency as temperatures rise above optimal operating ranges. **Occasional Rainfall Patterns**: Though generally dry, irregular but intense rainfall events can create temporary flooding or pooling around installations, potentially affecting ground-mounted systems or electrical components.

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove highly effective:

• Install automated cleaning systems or schedule regular manual cleaning to remove dust and sand buildup from panel surfaces
• Ensure adequate ventilation space beneath panels to promote cooling and prevent overheating during extreme summer temperatures
• Use elevated mounting systems with proper drainage to prevent water accumulation during heavy rainfall events
• Select panels with anti-reflective coatings and tempered glass designed to resist sand abrasion
• Install monitoring systems to track performance drops that indicate cleaning or maintenance needs

**Overall Assessment**: Er Regueb offers excellent year-round solar potential with manageable environmental challenges. The strong seasonal production, particularly during summer and spring months, combined with reasonable winter output makes this location highly suitable for solar PV installations when proper maintenance and installation practices are followed.

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 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 Er Regueb

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 34.859, Longitude: 9.7902 (Er Regueb, 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 30° South in Er Regueb, Tunisia

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Er Regueb, Tunisia (Lat/Long 34.859, 9.7902) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 30° 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 Er Regueb, 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 Er Regueb, Tunisia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 30° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
19° South in Summer	39° South in Autumn	50° South in Winter	27° 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 Er Regueb, 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 Er Regueb, 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 Er Regueb, Tunisia

Topographic Features of Er Regueb Region

The landscape around Er Regueb in central Tunisia is characterized by gently rolling hills and relatively flat terrain typical of the country's interior steppe region. This area sits at a moderate elevation within the broader Tunisian plateau, where the topography gradually transitions from the more mountainous regions to the north toward the flatter expanses that extend southward into the Sahara. The terrain consists primarily of low-relief undulating plains with occasional shallow valleys and modest ridgelines. These features create a landscape that rarely experiences dramatic elevation changes, making the region generally accessible and developable. The soil composition includes areas of rocky outcrops interspersed with sandy and clay-based sediments, reflecting the semi-arid climate conditions that dominate this part of Tunisia. Seasonal watercourses, known locally as wadis, cut through the landscape in various directions. These dry riverbeds only carry water during infrequent rainfall events but create subtle depressions in the otherwise relatively uniform topography. The vegetation is sparse, consisting mainly of drought-resistant shrubs and grasses adapted to the limited precipitation patterns of the region.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for extensive solar photovoltaic installations would be found on the broader, flatter sections of the plateau that extend in multiple directions from Er Regueb. These areas offer several advantages for solar development, including minimal grading requirements and reduced construction complexity due to the gentle terrain. The elevated flat areas to the southwest and southeast of Er Regueb present particularly favorable conditions. These zones combine relatively level ground with good drainage characteristics, reducing concerns about water accumulation during the occasional heavy rainfall events. The firm substrate in these areas would provide stable foundations for large solar arrays while minimizing the need for extensive site preparation. Areas with southern-facing gentle slopes could also prove advantageous, as they would naturally optimize panel orientation while maintaining the benefits of relatively uniform terrain. The key consideration would be selecting sites that avoid the seasonal watercourses and their immediate flood zones, while taking advantage of the numerous elevated plateaus that characterize the regional landscape. The sparse vegetation and limited agricultural use of much of the surrounding land would reduce potential conflicts with other land uses. Additionally, the relatively open terrain would facilitate access for construction and maintenance activities, while the stable geological conditions typical of this plateau region would support the infrastructure requirements of large-scale solar installations.

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.