Salo, Southwest Finland, Finland is not an ideal location for year-round solar PV energy generation, though it does offer some seasonal opportunities for solar power production. Located in the Northern Temperate Zone at coordinates 60.4076°N, 23.204°E, this Finnish city experiences dramatic seasonal variations in solar energy potential.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output varies dramatically throughout the year at this location. Summer provides the best solar generation potential at 5.80 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it a moderately productive period for solar energy. Spring offers reasonable output at 3.91 kWh per day per kW, providing a decent shoulder season for solar generation. However, the colder months present significant challenges. Autumn drops to just 1.39 kWh per day per kW, while winter plummets to an extremely low 0.49 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity. This means solar panels produce more than ten times less energy in winter compared to summer.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For maximum year-round solar production at Salo, Southwest Finland, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 49 degrees facing south. This angle is calculated to optimize total annual energy output by accounting for the sun's varying position throughout the year and weighting the angles based on actual solar potential at this northern latitude.

Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several significant factors can impede solar production at this Finnish location:

• Snow accumulation: Heavy snowfall during winter months can completely block solar panels, reducing already minimal winter output to zero
• Ice formation: Freezing conditions can create ice layers on panels that persist for extended periods
• Cloud cover: Northern European weather patterns bring frequent overcast conditions, particularly during autumn and winter
• Low sun angles: Even during clear weather, the sun remains very low on the horizon during winter months

Preventative Measures for Better Performance

Several installation strategies can help maximize solar energy production despite these challenging conditions:

• Steeper panel angles: Installing panels at angles steeper than the optimal 49 degrees can help snow slide off more easily
• Anti-reflective coatings: Special surface treatments can reduce ice adhesion and improve light absorption
• Heating systems: Electric heating elements or warm air circulation can melt snow and ice buildup
• Regular maintenance access: Design installations with safe access for manual snow removal when necessary
• Battery storage systems: Store excess summer energy for use during low-production winter months

The extreme seasonal variation makes Salo more suitable for supplemental rather than primary solar energy generation, with the most productive period clearly concentrated in the summer months when daylight conditions are most favorable.

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 56 locations across Finland. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.

Link: Solar PV potential in Finland by location

Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Salo

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 60.4076, Longitude: 23.204 (Salo, Finland), 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 49° South in Salo, Finland

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Salo, Finland (Lat/Long 60.4076, 23.204) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 49° 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 Salo, Finland

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 Salo, Finland. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 49° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
43° South in Summer	61° South in Autumn	72° South in Winter	52° 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 Salo, Finland

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 Salo, Finland.

Our calculation method

1. Solar Position:
   We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination.
2. Shadow Projection:
   We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle.
3. 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 Salo, Finland

Topography Around Salo, Finland

The landscape surrounding Salo in southwestern Finland is characterized by gently rolling terrain typical of the Baltic Shield region. This area sits within the broader Fennoscandian geological formation, where ancient bedrock has been shaped by glacial activity over millennia. The topography consists of low hills interspersed with valleys, creating a moderately undulating surface that rarely experiences dramatic elevation changes.

The region features numerous small lakes, wetlands, and forested areas that are characteristic of the Finnish landscape. These water bodies and woodland patches create a mosaic pattern across the terrain, with cleared agricultural fields and developed areas scattered throughout. The elevation changes are generally gradual, with most slopes being relatively gentle rather than steep.

Rocky outcrops of granite and other crystalline rocks occasionally emerge from the landscape, forming small ridges and knolls. These geological features, combined with the area's glacial history, have created well-drained soils in many locations, though some lower-lying areas contain clay deposits and may experience seasonal waterlogging.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar PV Development

The most suitable locations for extensive solar photovoltaic installations would be the cleared agricultural fields and open meadowlands that dot the region. These areas offer the advantage of minimal tree cover, which is crucial for maximizing solar exposure throughout the day. The relatively flat to gently sloping farmland provides ideal conditions for mounting solar panels without requiring extensive site preparation or grading work.

South-facing slopes, even gentle ones, would be particularly advantageous as they naturally orient toward the sun's path across the sky. The gradual topography means that large installations could be developed without significant concerns about shading from adjacent terrain features. Areas with good drainage, particularly those on slightly elevated ground or gentle slopes, would be preferable to avoid potential issues with standing water during wet periods.

Former agricultural land that is no longer in active cultivation presents excellent opportunities, as these sites typically have existing access roads and electrical infrastructure nearby. The open character of such areas, combined with their generally level terrain, makes them well-suited for the geometric requirements of solar panel arrays.

Rocky areas with thin soil cover, while perhaps less valuable for agriculture, could also serve as suitable locations for solar development. These sites often have good drainage and minimal vegetation, reducing preparation costs. The stable bedrock foundation could provide excellent support for mounting systems, particularly in areas where the rock surface is relatively level.

Finland solar PV Stats as a country

Finland ranks 59th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 404 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 0.30% of Finland's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 41st in the world). Each year Finland is generating 73 Watts from solar PV per capita (Finland ranks 45th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]

Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Finland?

Yes, there are incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Finland. The Finnish government offers a range of financial support and tax incentives for businesses that invest in renewable energy sources such as solar power. This includes grants, loans, and tax deductions. Additionally, the government has set up a feed-in tariff system which guarantees a fixed price for electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar power.

Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Finland? Please reach out to us and help us keep this information current. Thanks!

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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.