Solar PV Analysis of Aubenas, France
The location at Aubenas, France, is pretty good for generating energy using solar panels throughout the year. The amount of electricity that can be generated varies with each season. During summer and spring, you can expect to generate a lot more power than in autumn or winter due to longer daylight hours and better sunlight exposure.
Specifically, during the summer months when the sun is out for most of the day, you could produce around 6.85 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for every kilowatt (kW) of installed solar panels. In springtime, this drops slightly to about 5.52 kWh/day but it's still quite high.
However in autumn and winter, as days become shorter with less sunlight available, your solar panels would produce less electricity - around 3.39 kWh/day in autumn and only about 1.90 kWh/day in winter.
To maximize your overall yearly energy production from these solar panels at Aubenas location, you should tilt them towards south at an angle of approximately 38 degrees which will allow them to catch as much sunlight as possible across different seasons.
As far as local factors are concerned that might hinder your solar production: like any other place on earth weather conditions such as heavy cloud cover or rain may reduce output temporarily; however there’s no significant environmental or local factor specific to Aubenas that would impede solar production substantially.
When installing your system though, make sure it's done by professionals who know how to properly angle and position the panels for maximum efficiency taking into account local weather patterns - they’ll also ensure proper maintenance measures are taken into account like keeping the panels clean from dust or snow which could block sunlight reaching them otherwise reducing their effectiveness over time.
So overall while not perfect all year round due to seasonal variations in sunshine availability – Aubenas does offer a good potential site for effective generation of solar energy especially during Spring & Summer months.
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 627 locations across France. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in France by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Aubenas
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 44.6222, Longitude: 4.389 (Aubenas, France), 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 38° South in Aubenas, France
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Aubenas, France (Lat/Long 44.6222, 4.389) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 38° 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 Aubenas, France
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 Aubenas, France. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 38° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29° South in Summer | 49° South in Autumn | 59° South in Winter | 37° 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 Aubenas, France
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 Aubenas, France.
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 Aubenas, France
Aubenas, France is located in the Rhône-Alpes region and is characterized by a hilly and mountainous topography. The area is part of the Massif Central, which consists of mountains and plateaus. It has an elevation of 237 meters above sea level.
The regions with flatter terrain would be more suitable for large-scale solar PV installations as it makes installation easier. However, modern technology allows for solar panels to be installed on various types of terrain including slopes or hilly areas.
Considering the geographical location, some potential nearby areas that could be well suited for large scale solar PV might include the Rhone Valley to the east which tends to have flatter land compared to Aubenas' immediate surroundings.
Additionally, southern-facing slopes could also potentially be used since they would receive a significant amount of sunlight throughout the day - an important factor in maximizing energy production from solar PV systems.
However, any decision about where to locate such projects needs not only consider topographical suitability but also other factors like local climate conditions (amount of sunlight), proximity to power grids or infrastructure for energy transmission/storage and environmental impacts among others.
France solar PV Stats as a country
France ranks 11th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 14,718 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 2.80% of France's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 30th in the world). Each year France is generating 218 Watts from solar PV per capita (France ranks 23rd in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in France?
Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in France. The French government offers a range of financial incentives and tax credits to encourage businesses to invest in renewable energy sources such as solar power. These include the Feed-in Tariff (FiT), which pays businesses for the electricity they generate from their solar panels, and the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which provides a 30% tax credit on investments made in renewable energy systems. Additionally, businesses may be eligible for grants or loans from local authorities or regional development agencies.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in France? 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: Friday 7th of June 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.
