Augan, Brittany, France, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar PV energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations that are typical for its latitude.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at Augan varies considerably throughout the year. Summer provides the strongest performance at 6.21 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the peak season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.65 kWh per day per kW, offering nearly comparable output to summer months. Autumn shows a notable decline to 3.15 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 1.44 kWh per day per kW. This dramatic winter reduction means the location produces over four times more solar energy in summer than in winter.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For maximum year-round solar production at Augan, Brittany, fixed solar panels should be tilted at 41 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize total annual energy output by accounting for the sun's varying position throughout the year and weighting for actual solar irradiance conditions.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in the Augan region could potentially impact solar panel performance:

• Maritime climate influence bringing frequent cloud cover and precipitation
• Atlantic weather systems causing variable and unpredictable weather patterns
• Higher humidity levels that can affect panel efficiency
• Potential for salt air corrosion due to proximity to the Atlantic coast

Preventative Measures for Enhanced Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies should be considered:

• Use marine-grade mounting hardware and corrosion-resistant materials to withstand salt air exposure
• Install panels with adequate ventilation spacing to prevent moisture buildup and improve cooling
• Implement regular cleaning schedules to remove salt deposits, dust, and organic matter
• Consider anti-reflective coatings designed for humid climates
• Ensure proper drainage systems to handle frequent rainfall

Regular maintenance becomes particularly important in this coastal climate to prevent performance degradation from environmental factors. Despite these considerations, Augan's solar potential remains viable, especially during the productive spring and summer seasons.

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 Augan

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 47.9208, Longitude: -2.2823 (Augan, 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 41° South in Augan, France

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Augan, France (Lat/Long 47.9208, -2.2823) 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 Augan, 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 Augan, France. 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
32° South in Summer	51° South in Autumn	62° 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 Augan, 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 Augan, France.

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 Augan, France

Topographical Features Around Augan

Augan sits within the Morbihan department of Brittany, characterized by gently rolling countryside typical of the Armorican Massif. The landscape around this small commune features modest elevation changes, with the terrain gradually undulating between approximately 50 to 150 meters above sea level. The area is dominated by agricultural fields, scattered woodlands, and traditional Breton hedgerows known as bocage, which create a patchwork pattern across the countryside.

The region's topography is generally favorable for development, with slopes that are rarely steep enough to pose significant challenges for construction or infrastructure projects. Small valleys carved by seasonal streams and brooks punctuate the landscape, while low ridges provide natural drainage patterns. The underlying geology consists primarily of ancient crystalline rocks, including granite and schist, which have been weathered over millions of years to create the relatively stable, undulating terrain visible today.

Mixed forests of oak, beech, and pine occupy portions of the higher ground, while the lower areas and valley floors are predominantly used for agriculture, including pastureland for cattle and fields growing cereals and vegetables. The bocage system of dense hedgerows and small fields, while culturally significant, creates a fragmented landscape that influences land use patterns throughout the region.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations around Augan would be the gently sloping or flat agricultural areas that face south or southwest. These areas benefit from minimal shading throughout the day and provide the stable, relatively level ground necessary for efficient solar panel installation and maintenance access.

The open agricultural fields located on the low ridges and elevated plateaus would be particularly well-suited for solar development, as they typically receive unobstructed exposure to sunlight and are less likely to experience fog or mist that can sometimes settle in the lower valley areas. These elevated positions also offer better drainage, which is important for the long-term stability of solar installations.

Areas to the south and east of Augan, where the landscape opens up into larger agricultural parcels with fewer hedgerows, would present fewer obstacles for large-scale development. The terrain in these directions tends to be more consolidated, with bigger field systems that could accommodate substantial solar arrays without requiring extensive modification of the traditional bocage landscape.

Locations that should be avoided for major solar installations include the steeper valley sides, heavily forested areas, and regions with dense concentrations of the traditional hedgerow systems. Additionally, the lower-lying areas near streams and seasonal watercourses may experience more frequent morning fog and could present drainage challenges that would complicate installation and maintenance activities.

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!

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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.