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Optimal Tilt of Solar Panels in the Philippines

Method · February 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.19886.61764

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Optimal Tilt of Solar Panels in the

Philippines
Ervin Malicdem
Mapping advocate, Schadow1 Expeditions.

Correspondence to: Ervin B. Malicdem (schadow1@s1expeditions.com)

The Philippines is located near the equator, right where there is adequate exposure from the sun as it is
within the path of the sun in the ecliptic plane all throughout the year. Also, the Philippines has the 5th
most expensive cost of electricity in the world. The Philippines needs to have alternate means of energy
supply that is less costly and does not contribute to global warming. Using solar energy as source of
electricity can help Filipinos produce their own power and save cost in the long run. As the sun’s location
in the celestial sphere is not fixed all throughout the year, it is therefore important to pinpoint the
optimal tilt of solar panels to produce the maximum amount of power available for semi-fixed
installations.

Keywords: solar panels, solar energy, renewable energy, insolation, Philippines

Introduction

The Philippines has been considered to have the 5th most costly electricity in the whole world. This is
due to various factors – political and the law of supply and demand as well as oligarchy that made
electricity expensive.

Due to this reason, alternate means of energy source can be tapped to enable competition that would
eventually reduce the cost of electricity in the country.

Aside from the economic benefit of introduction of other source of electricity in the country,
introduction of clean energy can also help in the alleviation of pollutants that aggravate global warming.

Solar energy is one of the alternate source of energy that can be used to introduce competition as well
as to add a source of non-polluting energy source.
 E r v i n M a l i c d e m : O p t i m a l T i l t o f S o l a r P a n e l s i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s P a g e |2

Background

The Philippines is a country located within the tropics, to where the sun’s rays directly hits the ground
perpendicularly half of the year. Thus, exposure to the sun is at its optimum in the Philippines in terms
of location.

The earth’s rotational axis is also tilted at 23.4 degrees in reference to its orbit around the sun, thus the
ground’s perpendicularity to the rays of the sun varies all throughout the year.

Varying locations in the Philippines, would also be radiated by the sun’s ray depending on the climate all
throughout the year as rains usually happens during typhoon season from the month of May until
January and dry season from January until May.

With this reality, it is thereby important to derive a formula that can estimate the amount of solar
radiation in a given location and the optimal tilt of the solar panels to enable the maximum potential of
collecting solar energy and eventually convert it reliably to electricity.

Research Method

Perpendicularity of the ground to Sun’s ray

Due to varying locations of possible solar panel installation in the Philippines, it is important to derive a
location’s perpendicularity to the sun.

The sun’s location in the celestial sphere varies depending on the month of the year as the earth’s axis is
tilted 23.4 degrees in relation to its orbital plane to the sun.

Figure 1: Earth's Axial Tilt

 E r v i n M a l i c d e m : O p t i m a l T i l t o f S o l a r P a n e l s i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s P a g e |3

The sun’s location northernmost location happens during estival solstice in June 21 at 23.4 degrees
north while its southernmost location happens during hibernal solstice in December 22 at 23.4 degrees
south.

The sun moves from east to west at varying inclination respective from north to south depending on the
month of the year. This is brought about by the earth's axial tilt that is currently at 23.4°. Thus, the sun
treads east to west on the skies at a north-south variance of 46.8 degrees all in a span of six months;
having its maximum angle hitting its direct rays every December 21st at 23.4° degrees south latitude
(Tropic of Capricorn) and 23.4° north latitude (Tropic of Cancer) every June 21st. These solar maximums
are called solstice. Through this, the Philippines is located on an area between 4° to 22° north latitude
and using these variables, you can calculate the optimum position of solar panels in case the panels will
be setup on a fixed position depending on the location in the country.

To calculate the appropriate perpendicularity of the solar panel’s surface to the rays of the sun, the
following formula can be used:

𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸
𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 = �
𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 2
Where:

Es = Angle of the sun during estival solstice

Hs = Angle of the sun during hibernal solstice
Dy = Days of the year
Lp = Perpendicular latitude to the ray of the sun

Solar Insolation
As weather conditions changes all throughout the year, an average rate of solar energy collected from
the sun parallel to the ground must be observed. To achieve this, 33 identical solar panels were spread
throughout the Philippines to which the solar panels were fixed parallel to the ground and is
unobstructed by any foreign object. Its produced electricity is recorded per day all throughout the year
using a solar charger and an average is taken per month. Recorded data was done in 2014 in the
following cities:

• Angeles • Binangonan • Dasmariñas

• Antipolo • Cabanatuan • Davao
• Bacolod • Cagayan De Oro • Iligan
• Bacoor • Cainta • Iloilo
• Baguio • Calamba • Imus
• Batangas • Cebu • Lapu-Lapu
 E r v i n M a l i c d e m : O p t i m a l T i l t o f S o l a r P a n e l s i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s P a g e |4

• Libertad • Mansilingan • San Pedro

• Lipa • Mantampay • Santa Rosa
• Lucena • Olongapo • Santol
• Mandaue • San Jose del Monte • Taytay
• Manila • San Pablo • Zamboanga

Figure 2: Locations of Solar Insolation Observation in the Philippines

Insolation was recorded using the following unit:

𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘ℎ
𝑚𝑚 2
𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 =
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Where:

Si = Solar insolation daily rate

kWh = kilowatt hour (produced electricity)
m2 = area of the solar panel
day = 24-hour period
 E r v i n M a l i c d e m : O p t i m a l T i l t o f S o l a r P a n e l s i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s P a g e |5

Figure 3 Solar Charger and other peripherals used in solar installation

Solar insolation correction to the perpendicularity of an object to the sun’s ray

As the angular perpendicularity to the sun’s ray has been calculated as well as the solar insolation
recorded in 2014 on 33 cities/municipalities in the Philippines, a correcting formula can be established
using:

𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿

Where:

Ao = optimal angle of the solar panel

Si = Solar insolation daily rate
Lp = Perpendicular latitude to the ray of the sun
 E r v i n M a l i c d e m : O p t i m a l T i l t o f S o l a r P a n e l s i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s P a g e |6

Figure 4: Solar Panels installation

Results

Solar Insolation Observations

Through the solar insolation values recorded all throughout 2014, the most productive month for solar
energy harvest is the month of April with a peak of over 7kWh/m2/day in Olongapo City in Zambales;
Bacoor, Imus and Dasmariñas cities in the province of Cavite, and Baguio City in the province of Benguet.

Worst production is during December with a value of about 3kWh/m2/day in San Jose del Monte in the
province of Bulacan; Calamba, San Pablo, San Pedro, and Santa Rosa cities in the province of Laguna;
Cainta, Taytay and Antipolo in the province of Rizal.
 E r v i n M a l i c d e m : O p t i m a l T i l t o f S o l a r P a n e l s i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s P a g e |7

Figure 5: Solar Insolation values in 33 provinces in 2014

Optimal Angle of Solar Panels

Using the solar insolation rate correction to the perpendicular angle of the sun’s ray to the ground,
country average values were obtained from the observations made on 33 Philippines cities.

The following country average were produced:

• January: 0.734899 (latitude + 23.4) = angle from horizontal

• February: 0.835051 (latitude + 15.6) = angle from horizontal
• March: 0.952525 (latitude + 7.8) = angle from horizontal
• April: 1.024192 x latitude = angle from horizontal
• May: 0.932828 (latitude - 7.8) = angle from horizontal
 E r v i n M a l i c d e m : O p t i m a l T i l t o f S o l a r P a n e l s i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s P a g e |8

• June: 0.827929 (latitude - 15.6) = angle from horizontal

• July: 0.775404 (latitude - 23.4) = angle from horizontal
• August: 0.742929 (latitude - 15.6) = angle from horizontal
• September: 0.776667 (latitude - 7.8) = angle from horizontal
• October: 0.749899 x latitude = angle from horizontal
• November: 0.713889 (latitude + 7.8) = angle from horizontal
• December: 0.679192 (latitude + 15.6) = angle from horizontal

If the resulting value is negative, that means the angle of your panel must be facing north from
horizontal. If a positive value, that means it is the angle of your panels facing south from horizontal.

Using the Bolinao Lighthouse as an example which is located at 16.30704°N latitude, the optimal tilt of
the panels on January is 29.1846744° from horizontal, facing south; and 5.497044° from horizontal,
facing north on July.

If using a fixed-mount for solar panels, the country annual average will result to a 0.812 correction rate
thus the angle can be calculated using

0.812117 x latitude = angle from horizontal facing south

As an example, the Bolinao Lighthouse is located at 16.30704°N latitude. Thus, using the formula above,
its solar panels must be facing south at an angle of 13.24131648° from horizontal.

Figure 6: Proper solar panel tilt for Bolinao, Pangasinan

 E r v i n M a l i c d e m : O p t i m a l T i l t o f S o l a r P a n e l s i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s P a g e |9

Conclusions and Recommendations

The Philippines can be considered as one of the countries that is capable of producing solar energy all
throughout the year. This with an average of producing 4.872702 kWh per square meter of solar cell in a
day. This is with a peak production of 6.145152 kWh per square meter of solar cell in a day in April as it
was expected because the sun’s rays are directly within the latitude range of the Philippines during this
month.

Using the insolation values as the correction rate for the perpendicular latitude of the sun’s ray
reference to the ground, we can get the optimal angle to position variable fixed-mount of solar panels.

Do note that the solar insolation values presented herein are country averages based on observations in
33 cities. For more specific calculations, a similar observation method can be replicated on the exact
location where solar panels are intended to be installed.

However, the best solution there is would be to acquire a solar tracker that can reposition the solar
panels with an altazimuth control in realtime, depending on the brightest part of the sky as this solution
can follow the sun’s path over the sky in a day as it traverses from east to west.

Acknowledgments
For the inspiration and tidbits garnered from Solar Philippines Facebook group and excessive electricity
cost that prompted me to install solar panels for my home. Gratitude to the readers, followers, and
supporters of Schadow1 Expeditions, the travel and mapping resource website for the Philippines.
Special thanks to those who donated in the past to ensure Schadow1 Expeditions provides and serves
the GPS routable map of the Philippines.

Correspondence
Ervin B. Malicdem, Schadow1 Expeditions. 1003 Crimson Road, Las Piñas City, Philippines. Phone +63
(915) 3387659; email: schadow1@s1expeditions.com

References
GHI Solar Map © 2014 Solargis

Idzkiewicz, Przemyslaw . “Earth’s Axial Tilt” illustration

International Astronomical Union (2010). “Planetary facts sheet”

Tiglao, Rigoberto (2014). “High electricity costs root of our backwardness.” Manila Times

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