Solar PV Analysis of Geel, Belgium
The location at Geel, Flanders, Belgium is fairly good for generating solar energy year-round but it's not ideal. The amount of electricity that can be produced from the sun varies throughout the year. During summer and spring, solar panels could generate a decent amount of electricity - 5.35 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in the summer and 4.56 kWh/day in spring for every kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power.
However, during autumn and winter, this output drops significantly to only 2.33 kWh/day in autumn and even lower to 1.17 kWh/day in winter per kW of installed solar power. This means that while you can still generate some electricity during these seasons, it won't be as much as during warmer months.
To get the most out of your solar installation all year round at this location, you should tilt your panels towards south at an angle of 43 degrees. This is because Belgium is located in Northern Hemisphere where sunlight comes from south.
As far as environmental or weather factors are concerned that might affect your ability to produce solar energy here: Geel experiences a temperate maritime climate with relatively moderate temperatures throughout the year but there's quite a bit rainfall which may reduce sunlight exposure on some days - particularly during autumn and winter when cloud cover tends to be more prevalent.
Also note that Belgium has shorter daylight hours during winter which further reduces potential for generating solar energy compared to longer daylight hours experienced in summer months.
In terms of preventative measures: You could consider using high-efficiency PV modules designed for low light conditions so they perform better under cloudy skies or less optimal lighting conditions; regular cleaning & maintenance would also help keep panels performing optimally by removing any dust or debris buildup which might block sunlight; investing into a tracking system may also increase efficiency by allowing panels follow path of sun through sky thus maximizing their exposure time.
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 201 locations across Belgium. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Belgium by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Geel
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 51.1641, Longitude: 4.9884 (Geel, Belgium), 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 43° South in Geel, Belgium
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Geel, Belgium (Lat/Long 51.1641, 4.9884) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 43° 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 Geel, Belgium
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 Geel, Belgium. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 43° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35° South in Summer | 54° South in Autumn | 64° South in Winter | 43° 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 Geel, Belgium
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 Geel, Belgium.
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 Geel, Belgium
Geel, Belgium is located in the Flanders region and is characterized by a relatively flat topography. The city lies at an elevation of around 22 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by agricultural land, forests, and residential areas.
For large-scale solar PV installations, open and flat areas are typically most suitable as they allow for easy installation and maintenance while maximizing exposure to sunlight. Given this, the agricultural lands surrounding Geel could potentially be suitable for such installations. However, it's important to consider that using productive agricultural land for solar installations can lead to conflicts of interest.
In addition to this, industrial zones or brownfield sites (abandoned or underused industrial and commercial facilities available for re-use) could also provide potential locations for large-scale solar PV systems without disrupting valuable farmland.
However, any decision on where to place such a system would need thorough site evaluation including aspects like local climate conditions (amount of sunlight), soil condition (for ground-mounted systems), proximity to power grids (for feeding power into the grid), environmental impact assessments etc.
Belgium has a temperate maritime climate influenced by the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean with relatively moderate temperatures throughout the year which may affect efficiency of solar panels due to less intense sunlight compared with more southernly regions closer to equator.
Lastly it should be noted that rooftops in urban areas like Geel itself can also provide substantial space for smaller scale distributed generation through rooftop solar PV systems.
Belgium solar PV Stats as a country
Belgium ranks 19th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 6,585 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 6.60% of Belgium's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 10th in the world). Each year Belgium is generating 569 Watts from solar PV per capita (Belgium ranks 5th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Belgium?
Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Belgium. The Belgian government offers a range of financial support measures for businesses that invest in renewable energy sources such as solar power. These include tax deductions, grants and subsidies, as well as access to low-interest loans. Additionally, the Flemish Energy Agency (VEA) provides free advice and guidance on how to make the most of these incentives.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Belgium? Please reach out to us and help us keep this information current. Thanks!
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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Thursday 23rd of May 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.
