Barjols, France, located in the Northern Temperate Zone at coordinates 43.5551°N, 6.0048°E, offers a moderately favorable location for year-round solar PV energy generation, though with significant seasonal variation in output.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy production at this location varies considerably throughout the year. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 7.31 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it the peak generation season. Spring follows as the second-best period with 5.70 kWh per day per kW, offering excellent solar conditions as daylight hours increase. Autumn shows a notable decline to 3.46 kWh per day per kW as the sun angle decreases and weather patterns change. Winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.22 kWh per day per kW, representing less than one-third of summer production levels. For optimal year-round energy capture from a fixed panel installation at Barjols, solar panels should be tilted at 37 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual production by balancing the sun's varying elevation throughout the seasons.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in the Barjols region can impact solar energy generation:

• Mistral winds: This strong, dry northwesterly wind common in Provence can carry dust and debris that accumulates on solar panels, reducing efficiency
• Mediterranean climate patterns: While generally sunny, the region experiences occasional intense rainfall and storms that can temporarily reduce output
• Seasonal cloud cover: Autumn and winter months may experience increased cloudiness that contributes to lower production during these periods
• Dust and pollen: The rural, agricultural surroundings can generate airborne particles that settle on panels

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these local challenges, several installation strategies prove beneficial:

• Regular cleaning schedule: Implement monthly panel cleaning, especially during dusty periods or after Mistral wind events
• Proper mounting systems: Use robust mounting hardware designed to withstand strong wind loads typical of the region
• Strategic placement: Position panels away from trees or structures that might create shade, particularly important given the lower winter sun angles
• Quality inverters: Install equipment rated for the temperature variations experienced in this Mediterranean climate

Despite these considerations, Barjols represents a reasonably good location for solar PV installation, with strong summer and spring production offsetting the lower winter output typical of temperate European locations.

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 Barjols

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.5551, Longitude: 6.0048 (Barjols, 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 37° South in Barjols, France

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Barjols, France (Lat/Long 43.5551, 6.0048) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 37° 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 Barjols, 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 Barjols, France. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 37° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
27° South in Summer	47° South in Autumn	58° 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 Barjols, 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 Barjols, 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 Barjols, France

Topography Around Barjols

Barjols sits in the heart of the Var department in southeastern France, nestled within the rolling hills and limestone plateaus that characterize this part of Provence. The town itself occupies a position at approximately 280 meters above sea level, surrounded by a landscape that gently undulates between valleys and modest ridges. The terrain here is predominantly composed of sedimentary rocks, particularly limestone formations that have been shaped over millennia by erosion and weathering processes. The immediate vicinity of Barjols features a mix of agricultural land, Mediterranean scrubland known locally as garrigue, and patches of oak and pine woodland. The topography is generally moderate, with slopes that are neither too steep nor completely flat, creating a varied but manageable landscape for development purposes. Small valleys wind between the hills, often following the courses of seasonal streams that flow toward the Argens River system to the south. Moving outward from the town center, the landscape becomes more pronounced with higher elevations to the north and east, where the foothills of the Sainte-Baume massif begin to assert themselves. To the west and southwest, the terrain tends to level out somewhat as it approaches the broader valley systems that eventually lead toward the Mediterranean coastal plain.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most promising locations for extensive solar photovoltaic installations around Barjols would be found on the gently sloping plateaus and broad ridgetops that extend primarily to the south and southwest of the town. These elevated areas offer several advantages including consistent exposure to prevailing weather patterns, minimal shading from surrounding topographic features, and relatively stable ground conditions due to the underlying limestone bedrock. The limestone plateaus scattered throughout the region present particularly attractive sites for solar development. These formations typically feature relatively flat to gently undulating surfaces with good drainage characteristics and solid geological foundations. The sparse vegetation common to these areas, consisting mainly of drought-resistant shrubs and grasses, would present fewer environmental constraints compared to more densely forested zones. Areas with southern and southwestern exposures on the moderate slopes surrounding the town would also prove highly suitable for solar installations. The natural gradient of these slopes can be advantageous for optimizing panel orientation while the elevation provides good air circulation that can help maintain equipment efficiency during warmer periods. The broader valley floors, particularly those extending toward the southwest in the direction of Brignoles, offer substantial flat areas that could accommodate very large solar arrays. While these locations might require more extensive site preparation, they provide the advantage of easier access for construction and maintenance activities, along with proximity to existing electrical infrastructure. Less suitable areas for major solar development would include the steeper slopes leading up toward the Sainte-Baume heights to the northeast, where the terrain becomes more challenging and the increased forest cover would create both environmental and practical obstacles. Similarly, the narrow valley bottoms and areas prone to seasonal water accumulation would be less ideal for large-scale installations.

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.