Solar PV Analysis of Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France
The location at Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France, is pretty decent for generating energy using solar panels throughout the year. However, it's not perfect and there are better and worse times of the year.
In simple terms, solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity. So naturally, they perform best in sunny conditions. At this location in France, the amount of electricity you can expect to get from your solar panels changes with each season.
During summer when days are longest and sunniest, you can expect to generate about 5.56 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for every kilowatt (kW) worth of solar panels you have installed. This is a good amount!
In spring and autumn though things aren't as bright or sunny so your panels won't produce as much power - around 4.97 kWh/day in spring and even less at 2.89 kWh/day during autumn.
Winter is when things really slow down because there's less sunlight overall due to shorter days and more cloud cover usually - here you'll only manage about 1.34 kWh/day per kW of installed solar.
To make sure that your solar panel system works as efficiently as possible all year round at this location in France, it would be best to tilt them towards south at an angle of approximately 42 degrees from horizontal level; this will allow them to capture maximum sunlight throughout different seasons.
As far as environmental or weather factors that could potentially obstruct your system’s productivity go – well yes there are a few:
Firstly given its Northern Temperate Zone location means it experiences regular seasonal variations which affect hours and intensity of sunshine received through the year; especially winter months where snowfall might also cover up the panels reducing their efficiency significantly if not cleaned off regularly.
Secondly local pollution levels can also negatively impact efficiency by blocking some sunlight from reaching your panel surface if air quality is poor.
To counter these issues, regular maintenance of the panels - such as cleaning them to remove snow or dust and monitoring local air quality can help ensure that they perform at their best.
In summary, while this location in France isn't perfect for solar power generation all year round due to seasonal variations and potential environmental factors, with proper installation and care, it's still possible to generate a decent amount of electricity using solar panels.
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 Montigny-le-Bretonneux
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 48.7698, Longitude: 2.0309 (Montigny-le-Bretonneux, 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 42° South in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France (Lat/Long 48.7698, 2.0309) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 42° 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 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, 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 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 42° 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 | 52° South in Autumn | 62° South in Winter | 41° 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 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, 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 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, 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 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France
Montigny-le-Bretonneux is located in the Île-de-France region of north-central France. The city is relatively flat with minor slopes and small hills, sitting at an average elevation of around 166 meters above sea level. It has a mix of urban areas and green spaces.
The landscape surrounding Montigny-le-Bretonneux includes patches of farmland, forests, and residential areas. To the east lies the Forest of Versailles which wouldn't be suitable for solar PV due to tree coverage blocking sunlight. However, there are numerous open fields and farmlands to the west and south that could potentially be used for large-scale solar PV installations.
These agricultural lands receive ample sunlight throughout the year making them ideal locations for solar power generation. Other potential sites include rooftops on commercial or industrial buildings in nearby urban areas like Trappes or Voisins-le-Bretonneux where there is plenty of unobstructed sun exposure.
Before installing any large-scale solar projects, it would be necessary to conduct a detailed assessment including factors like local weather patterns (especially cloud cover), soil type (for ground-mounted systems), proximity to power grids, regulatory restrictions as well as potential impact on local ecosystems or agricultural activities.
It's also worth noting that France has set ambitious renewable energy targets aiming for 40% renewable electricity by 2030 which may provide incentives for such developments.
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: Sunday 2nd 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.
