Solar PV Analysis of Steyr, Austria
The location at Steyr, Upper Austria, Austria is in the Northern Temperate Zone and can produce varying amounts of solar energy throughout the year. The amount of electricity generated from each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar panels changes with each season. During summer, you can expect around 5.96 kWh/day per kW, which is quite high. In autumn, this drops to about 2.82 kWh/day per kW and further dips to just 1.39 kWh/day per kW in winter due to shorter daylight hours and lower sun angles during these seasons. However, it rises again in spring to about 4.42 kWh/day per kW as days get longer.
Therefore, the best times for generating solar energy at this location would be during the summer and spring when sunlight is most abundant.
Regarding installation specifics for maximum efficiency year-round, panels should ideally be tilted at an angle of 41 degrees facing South.
As for potential local factors that might impact solar production: Steyr's weather could pose a challenge since it experiences rain throughout the year with higher rainfall during summer months which may reduce sunlight exposure on some days leading to less power generation temporarily.
Preventative measures against such issues include installing panels in areas where they are least likely obstructed by shadows or buildings and regularly cleaning them so dirt or debris does not block sunlight either. Also investing in high-quality panels that perform well even under diffused light conditions could help maintain good output levels despite occasional cloudy skies or rain showers.
Furthermore, while winters have lesser sunshine hours affecting overall production; snowfall – common in Austrian winters - may actually boost output as it reflects more light onto the panels but care must be taken that heavy snow doesn't cover up or damage your PV system instead.
Overall though these challenges aren't insurmountable nor do they significantly impede solar power generation enough to make it unviable here; rather careful planning & maintenance can ensure fairly good solar energy production year-round at Steyr, Upper Austria, Austria.
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 124 locations across Austria. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Austria by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Steyr
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 48.0425, Longitude: 14.4213 (Steyr, Austria), 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 41° South in Steyr, Austria
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Steyr, Austria (Lat/Long 48.0425, 14.4213) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 41° 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 Steyr, Austria
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 Steyr, Austria. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 41° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31° South in Summer | 51° South in Autumn | 61° South in Winter | 40° 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 Steyr, Austria
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 Steyr, Austria.
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 Steyr, Austria
Steyr, Austria is located in the Upper Austrian Prealps region. The city's topography consists of a mix of flat and hilly terrain. It is surrounded by several mountains and hills including Damberg, Tabor Hill, Christkindl Hill and Eckartsberg. The Enns and Steyr rivers flow through the city.
The city experiences a significant amount of sunshine throughout the year which makes it suitable for solar energy production. However, due to its mountainous surroundings, not all areas will be ideal for large-scale solar PV installations.
Large scale solar PV systems require relatively flat terrains with good sun exposure throughout the day. Therefore, open fields or plains around Steyr would be most suited for such installations rather than mountainous or heavily forested regions.
Additionally, rooftops of industrial buildings within Steyr could also serve as potential sites for smaller scale PV installations.
However, feasibility studies considering factors like sunlight hours per day (solar irradiance), local weather patterns (cloud cover), land availability/costs etc., should be carried out to identify specific locations best suited for large-scale solar PV in this area.
Austria solar PV Stats as a country
Austria ranks 28th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 2,692 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 3.40% of Austria's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 25th in the world). Each year Austria is generating 302 Watts from solar PV per capita (Austria ranks 14th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Austria?
Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Austria. The Austrian government offers a range of financial support measures, including grants and loans, as well as tax breaks and other incentives. Additionally, the Austrian Energy Agency (AEA) provides information on funding opportunities for renewable energy projects. Furthermore, businesses can benefit from the Feed-in Tariff (FiT), which guarantees a fixed price for electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar energy.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Austria? 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: Monday 8th of April 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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.
