Solar PV Analysis of Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates
Al Ain City, Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, is a good place to generate electricity using solar panels all year round. This is because it's in the Northern Sub Tropics where there's plenty of sunlight throughout the year. The amount of electricity you can expect to produce from each kilowatt of installed solar power varies by season:
- In summer, you could get about 7.97 kilowatt-hours per day.
- In autumn, this drops slightly to about 6.27 kilowatt-hours per day.
- Winter sees a further decrease to around 5.27 kilowatt-hours per day.
- But by spring, production increases again to approximately 7.88 kilowatt-hours per day.
So, while it's possible to generate solar energy throughout the year at this location, production would be highest during summer and spring.
For fixed panel installations at this location, tilting your panels at an angle of 22 degrees towards the South would help maximize your total yearly production from solar energy.
As for factors that could affect solar production in Al Ain City:
The city is located in a desert region where dust and sandstorms are common occurrences. These can cover solar panels with dust or sand which reduces their efficiency by blocking sunlight.
To prevent this problem:
Regular cleaning and maintenance are crucial for keeping the panels clear and working efficiently. You might also consider installing automated cleaning systems that use brushes or air blowers to remove dust off your panels regularly without much manual intervention needed.
Also note that high temperatures can actually reduce the efficiency of solar panels as they operate best under cooler conditions (around 25°C). Therefore providing some sort of cooling system or ensuring good ventilation around your installation could help maintain its performance during very hot weather periods typical for Al Ain City area.
Overall though these challenges should not be significant enough barriers given how much sun Al Ain gets - making it generally an excellent place for solar power production.
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 8 locations across United Arab Emirates. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in United Arab Emirates by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Al Ain City
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 24.19, Longitude: 55.7623 (Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates), 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 22° South in Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates (Lat/Long 24.19, 55.7623) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 22° 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 Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates
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 Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 22° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8° South in Summer | 29° 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 Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates
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 Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates.
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 Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates
Al Ain City, located in the United Arab Emirates, is situated in a desert environment. The topography is generally flat with some occasional sand dunes and rocky terrains. The city lies beneath the Hajar Mountains to the east.
The region receives abundant sunshine throughout the year, making it an excellent location for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. Given that Al Ain has vast expanses of unused desert land with high solar irradiance levels, these areas would be ideally suited for large-scale solar PV projects.
However, factors such as dust storms (which can reduce panel efficiency), high ambient temperatures (which can affect performance), and access to grid infrastructure also need to be considered when planning such projects.
It's important to note that specific site assessments would need to be conducted by professionals in order to identify exact locations best suited for large-scale solar PV installations.
United Arab Emirates solar PV Stats as a country
United Arab Emirates ranks 27th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 2,705 total MW's of solar PV installed. Each year United Arab Emirates is generating 273 Watts from solar PV per capita (United Arab Emirates ranks 17th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in United Arab Emirates?
Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE government has implemented a number of initiatives to encourage businesses to switch to renewable energy sources such as solar power. These include:
1. The Shams Dubai Initiative – This initiative provides financial support and technical assistance for businesses that want to install solar panels on their rooftops or other areas of their property. It also offers subsidies for the installation costs and maintenance fees associated with the project.
2. The Masdar City Solar Park – This is a large-scale solar park located in Abu Dhabi which provides businesses with access to clean, renewable energy at competitive prices.
3. Net Metering – This program allows businesses to sell excess electricity generated from their solar systems back into the grid, providing them with additional income streams from their investments in renewable energy sources.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in United Arab Emirates? 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: Saturday 16th of March 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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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.
