Solar PV Analysis of Fontaine, France
The location at Fontaine, France is decent for year-round solar energy production, but it's not perfect. The amount of electricity produced by solar panels changes with the seasons. In summer and spring, you can expect more power because there are more hours of sunlight - around 6.24kWh/day in summer and 5.37kWh/day in spring per kW installed solar panel. However, during autumn and winter when the days are shorter, this falls to about 3.17kWh/day and 1.68kWh/day respectively.
Ideally, for maximum efficiency throughout the year at this location, your solar panels should be tilted at a 39 degrees angle facing South if they're fixed installations.
There could be some local factors that might affect how much power you get from your panels though:
1) Weather: This area has a temperate climate which means it can have cloudy or rainy days that would reduce sunlight exposure to the panels.
2) Environment: If there are tall buildings or trees around your property that cast shadows on your panels during parts of the day then these could also reduce their output.
To ensure greater energy production from your solar installation despite these potential issues:
- You might want to consider installing tracking systems for your panels so they follow the sun across the sky instead of being fixed in one position.
- Regular maintenance like cleaning off any dust or debris from your panels will help them work better.
- For environmental factors such as shading from nearby structures or vegetation, careful planning before installation can help avoid these obstacles where possible.
Overall though while Fontaine isn't an ideal spot like somewhere closer to equator would be for generating solar power all year round; with correct setup it's still pretty good especially during longer daylight months like spring and summer when most power is generated by PVs here anyway!
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 447 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 Fontaine
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 45.2014, Longitude: 5.6933 (Fontaine, 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 39° South in Fontaine, France
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Fontaine, France (Lat/Long 45.2014, 5.6933) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 39° 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 Fontaine, 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 Fontaine, France. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 39° 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 | 38° 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 Fontaine, 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 Fontaine, 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 Fontaine, France
Fontaine, France is located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region near Grenoble. The topography of this area is characterized by a mix of flat plains and rugged hills, with the French Alps to the east. The city itself sits at an elevation of around 206 meters.
For large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, areas with flat or gently sloping terrain are generally preferred as they require less site preparation and can accommodate more panels per unit area. Therefore, the flatter plains surrounding Fontaine would be more suitable for such a project than the hilly or mountainous regions.
However, it's important to note that suitability for solar PV also depends on factors like local climate conditions (amount of sunlight received), land use restrictions and proximity to power transmission lines. As such, while certain areas may seem ideal based on topography alone, other considerations could potentially limit their viability.
In terms of specific nearby locations that might be suitable for large scale solar PV installations based on their relatively flat terrain include:
1. Areas towards the west and southwest of Fontaine along the Isère River.
2. The plain north-northeast towards Saint-Égrève.
3. Southwards beyond Échirolles where there is flatter land before reaching Vif and its surrounding mountains.
Again these suggestions are purely from a topographical perspective; actual suitability would need further investigations considering all relevant factors mentioned above including environmental impact assessments etc., which should be done by professionals in renewable energy planning field.
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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Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Tuesday 23rd of April 2024
Last Updated: Wednesday 26th of June 2024
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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.
