Montplaisir, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia offers excellent conditions for year-round solar energy generation, making it a highly suitable location for solar PV installations. Located in the Northern Temperate Zone at coordinates 36.8148°N, 10.1871°E, this area benefits from abundant sunshine throughout the year.

Seasonal Solar Production Performance

The solar energy output varies significantly across seasons, with summer providing the highest generation at 7.34kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.98kWh per day per kW, while autumn produces 4.02kWh per day per kW. Winter shows the lowest output at 3.01kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity. Summer and spring represent the ideal times for solar generation at this location, with summer producing more than twice the energy of winter months. Even during the least productive winter season, the location still generates substantial solar energy, indicating year-round viability for solar installations.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For maximum year-round energy production at Montplaisir, Tunis Governorate, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 32 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize total annual solar output by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year and weighting the angles based on solar irradiance data.

Environmental and Weather Factors

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

• Saharan dust storms and sand particles can accumulate on solar panels, reducing light transmission and energy output
• Coastal proximity may lead to salt spray and humidity affecting panel surfaces
• High summer temperatures can reduce panel efficiency despite increased sunlight
• Occasional Mediterranean weather patterns bringing clouds or precipitation

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies should be implemented: Regular cleaning schedules are essential, particularly during dust storm seasons. Installing automated cleaning systems or planning for frequent manual cleaning will maintain panel efficiency. Choosing panels with anti-reflective and hydrophobic coatings can help reduce dust accumulation and make cleaning more effective. Proper ventilation spacing between panels and mounting surfaces will help manage high temperature effects, preventing excessive heat buildup that reduces efficiency. Installing panels with adequate airflow underneath allows natural cooling. Using corrosion-resistant mounting hardware and frames designed for coastal environments will protect against salt spray damage. Regular inspection and maintenance of electrical connections and components will ensure long-term reliability in the Mediterranean climate. Selecting high-quality panels with good temperature coefficients will minimize efficiency losses during hot summer months when production potential is highest. With proper installation and maintenance practices, Montplaisir represents an excellent location for solar energy generation throughout the year.

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 Montplaisir

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 36.8148, Longitude: 10.1871 (Montplaisir, 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 Montplaisir, Tunisia

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Montplaisir, Tunisia (Lat/Long 36.8148, 10.1871) 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 Montplaisir, 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 Montplaisir, 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 Montplaisir, 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 Montplaisir, 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 Montplaisir, Tunisia

Regional Topography of Montplaisir

Montplaisir sits within the greater Tunis metropolitan area in northern Tunisia, positioned on relatively flat coastal terrain that characterizes much of the country's Mediterranean shoreline. The immediate landscape around this suburban district consists of gently undulating plains with minimal elevation changes, typical of the broader Cap Bon peninsula region. The terrain gradually rises from the nearby Mediterranean coast toward the interior, creating a series of low hills and shallow valleys that rarely exceed modest elevations.

The surrounding topography features a mix of urban development interspersed with agricultural land, particularly olive groves and citrus orchards that take advantage of the favorable climate and soil conditions. To the west and southwest, the landscape becomes more varied with rolling hills that form part of the Atlas Mountain foothills, though these remain relatively modest in height compared to the dramatic peaks found further inland.

The coastal proximity means the terrain benefits from stable weather patterns, with the Mediterranean Sea moderating temperature extremes throughout the year. The land surface consists primarily of sedimentary soils overlying limestone bedrock, creating generally stable ground conditions suitable for various types of development.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most promising locations for extensive solar photovoltaic installations lie to the west and southwest of Montplaisir, where the terrain opens into broader agricultural plains with fewer urban constraints. These areas offer expanses of relatively flat or gently sloping land that would minimize grading requirements and installation costs while maximizing panel efficiency through optimal positioning.

The agricultural zones stretching toward the interior present particularly attractive opportunities, as much of this land consists of large, contiguous parcels with minimal shading from buildings or mature vegetation. The slightly elevated positions of these inland areas also provide natural drainage advantages and reduce concerns about coastal humidity or salt air exposure that could affect equipment longevity.

Areas to the south toward the Medjerda River valley would also prove suitable, offering extensive flat terrain with good access to existing infrastructure. The river valley's broad, level floodplains provide ideal conditions for large solar arrays, though careful site selection would be necessary to avoid areas prone to seasonal flooding.

The region's proximity to major population centers and existing electrical infrastructure represents a significant advantage for any large-scale solar development. The relatively stable geological conditions and absence of extreme topographical challenges would facilitate both construction and maintenance access, making this area particularly well-suited for utility-scale renewable energy projects.

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.