Solar panel output in Patagonia: real numbers by city
Properly tilted, one kWp in Puerto Madryn generates about 1,670 kWh per year, essentially the same as Buenos Aires. The myth that the south is no good for solar does not survive the numbers: cold improves panel performance and Patagonian skies are clearer. What does change is seasonality: December generates 2.7 to 4.6 times more than June, and correct tilt matters far more than up north.
The numbers, city by city
These values come from our simulation model (Erbs decomposition, Hay-Davies transposition, NOCT cell temperature), calibrated against a real engineering report from the region. They assume north-facing panels, no shading, 30 degree tilt:
| City | Annual yield (kWh/kWp) | December vs June |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Madryn | 1,670 | x2.7 |
| Trelew | 1,660 | x2.8 |
| Esquel | 1,670 | x2.7 |
| Comodoro Rivadavia | 1,580 | x3.3 |
| Bahía Blanca | 1,670 | x2.5 |
| Buenos Aires (reference) | 1,650 | x1.9 |
In terms of one concrete panel: a 620 W module in Puerto Madryn, well tilted, produces around 1,000 to 1,050 kWh per year. Ten panels cover the annual electricity use of a large home or a small shop.
Why the south outperforms its reputation
Latitude works against you: less winter sun, and morning and evening sun comes in lower. But two Patagonian factors compensate almost all of it:
Cold is the panel's friend. Panels lose output as they heat up (about 0.3% per degree of cell temperature above 25 °C). In Patagonia cells run cooler, and it shows in system performance: our model gives a performance ratio of 0.83 to 0.84 in the region, versus 0.82 in Buenos Aires.
Skies are clearer. Less humidity and less summer cloud than the humid pampas: when the sun is out, it is really out. The region's clearness index is among the best in the country outside the northwest.
The net result is the table above: Madryn ties Buenos Aires and the whole Chubut coast lands within 2% of the capital. Only Comodoro, further south and windier, gives up 5%.
Seasonality is the number that decides the project
The annual figure hides what actually needs designing: the summer-winter imbalance. In December a Patagonian system generates 2.7 to 4.6 times what it does in June, depending on city and tilt.
| Tilt | Madryn (kWh/kWp yr) | Dec vs Jun | Comodoro (kWh/kWp yr) | Dec vs Jun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 degrees (typical metal roof) | 1,570 | x3.8 | 1,480 | x4.6 |
| 30 degrees (tilted structure) | 1,670 | x2.7 | 1,580 | x3.3 |
Two practical readings: proper tilt is worth 6% a year and trims the winter gap, and in Patagonia the tilted structure pays for itself more clearly than up north. If your heavy consumption is in winter (heating, for instance), sizing on the annual average alone leaves you short exactly in the months that matter.
Run the numbers for your own roof, free
These are city averages. Your roof has its own orientation, tilt and area, and your consumption has its own shape. That is why we built a free tool: mark your roof on the map, enter your consumption and get the full analysis in a minute: how many panels fit, monthly generation, savings and payback.
No sign-up, no strings: conver.studio/en/solar/analysis. If you then want it confirmed against your actual utility bill, send it over and we adjust with your real numbers.