Solar PV Analysis of Avignon, France
The location at Avignon, France is quite good for generating solar energy throughout the year, but it's not perfect. The amount of energy you can get from solar panels depends on how much sunlight they receive. In Avignon, the sunniest season is summer with about 7.58 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy produced per day for each kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. Spring also offers a good amount of sunlight with around 6 kWh/day per kW of installed solar.
However, in autumn and winter, the days are shorter and there's less sunlight so your solar panels won't produce as much energy - about 3.60 kWh/day in autumn and even less in winter with only around 2.12 kWh/day.
To maximize your total year-round production from solar power in Avignon, it would be best to tilt your fixed panel installation at an angle of 38 degrees facing south. This angle takes into account the path that the sun travels across the sky over a year and will help capture as much sunlight as possible.
As far as local factors that could affect your ability to generate solar power here: this region does have some cloud cover throughout the year which might reduce how much sunlight reaches your panels - particularly during winter months when cloud cover tends to be more prevalent.
Also consider any buildings or trees nearby that might cast shadows on your panels during different times of day or seasons - these could significantly reduce their performance if not properly accounted for during installation.
To ensure greater energy production despite these factors: make sure there are no obstructions blocking direct sun exposure to your panels; consider using tracking systems that follow the path of the sun across sky for maximum exposure; clean regularly to remove dust or debris which can decrease efficiency; finally monitor weather forecasts closely so you can adjust panel angles if necessary ahead of expected cloudy periods.
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 Avignon
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.9542, Longitude: 4.8098 (Avignon, 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 Avignon, France
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Avignon, France (Lat/Long 43.9542, 4.8098) 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 Avignon, 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 Avignon, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28° South in Summer | 48° South in Autumn | 59° South in Winter | 36° 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 Avignon, 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 Avignon, 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 Avignon, France
Avignon, located in the south-eastern part of France, is generally characterized by a flat landscape as it's situated in the Rhone River valley. The region is surrounded by low-lying hills and plateaus such as Mont Ventoux to the northeast, Alpilles to the south, and Luberon mountains to the southeast.
The city itself might not be ideal for large-scale solar PV due to its dense urban development. However, areas surrounding Avignon could potentially be good candidates for solar energy production. The relatively flat plains nearby would allow for easy installation of solar panels and their exposure wouldn't be obstructed by any significant geographical features.
In terms of specific locations:
1. The plains around Châteaurenard and Noves (south of Avignon) are quite open.
2. Areas near Cavaillon (southeast) are also relatively flat.
3. Northwards towards Orange or Bollène could also provide suitable conditions given their extensive agriculture lands which may have potential for dual use - agriculture plus solar PV.
However, it's important that any plans for large-scale solar installations take into account local regulations about land use as well as potential impacts on local ecosystems or agricultural practices.
Furthermore, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region where Avignon is located is an attractive location for solar power generation overall due to its favourable geography and climate conditions.
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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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Wednesday 17th of January 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.
