Solar PV Analysis of Silly, Belgium
In simple terms, the location at Silly, Wallonia, Belgium is somewhat suitable for generating energy using solar photovoltaic (PV) panels throughout the year. However, it's not perfect due to seasonal variations in sunlight.
The amount of electricity that can be produced by each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power changes with the seasons. In summer and spring, you can expect to generate quite a bit of electricity - around 5.40 kWh per day in summer and 4.98 kWh per day in spring per kW of installed solar power. This makes these seasons ideal times to generate solar energy because there is more sunlight available.
However, during autumn and winter, you will produce significantly less energy - about 2.55 kWh/day in autumn and only 1.19 kWh/day in winter per kW of installed solar power because there are fewer hours of daylight and the sun isn't as strong.
To get the most out of your solar panels all year round at this location, you should tilt them at an angle facing south by 43 degrees from horizontal level. This will help maximize total annual production from your PV system.
As for environmental or local factors that could affect your ability to produce solar energy here: Belgium has a temperate maritime climate which means it often experiences cloudy or overcast weather which could potentially reduce how much sunlight reaches your panels especially during Autumn-Winter months when cloud cover tends to be high.
To help ensure greater energy production despite these challenges:
1) You might want to consider installing more efficient types of PV panels that perform better under low light conditions.
2) Regular cleaning & maintenance is necessary as dust or dirt on panel surface can further reduce output efficiency.
3) If feasible installing tracking systems which follow sun’s path across sky might also improve overall performance but they are usually expensive & require regular maintenance.
Remember though that even with these measures you may still have periods where your solar panels aren't producing as much electricity due to lack of sunlight. It's important to have a backup energy source or grid connection for these times.
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 Silly
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 50.6512, Longitude: 3.9237 (Silly, 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 Silly, Belgium
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Silly, Belgium (Lat/Long 50.6512, 3.9237) 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 Silly, 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 Silly, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34° South in Summer | 53° 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 Silly, 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 Silly, 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 Silly, Belgium
Silly, Belgium is located in the Walloon Region of Belgium and is characterized by a gently rolling landscape with fertile plains and small hills. The area is primarily agricultural, with fields and pastures interspersed with forests.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping areas are typically preferred to minimize installation costs and maximize solar exposure. Given the topography around Silly, the agricultural fields could potentially be suitable for such installations. However, this would need to be balanced against the need to preserve agricultural land for farming purposes.
In addition to topography, other factors that would influence suitability for large-scale solar PV include sunlight levels (solar irradiance), local climate conditions (such as frequency of cloud cover or fog), proximity to existing power infrastructure for connection to the grid, land use regulations and environmental considerations.
Given Belgium's relatively high latitude (50 degrees north), sunlight levels will vary significantly throughout the year – being lower in winter months compared to summer months. This seasonal variation needs to be factored into any assessment of solar potential.
It's also worth noting that rooftops on buildings in urbanized areas can also provide suitable locations for smaller scale solar PV installations.
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!
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.
