Solar PV Analysis of Plan-de-Cuques, France
The location at Plan-de-Cuques, France is moderately ideal for generating energy through solar panels throughout the year. The amount of electricity that can be produced varies with each season, with summer and spring being the best times to generate solar power.
During summer, you can expect to produce about 7.52 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for every kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power. In spring, this number decreases slightly to around 5.93 kWh/day per kW of installed solar power. These two seasons are when sunlight is most abundant and hence the ideal time for generating solar energy.
In autumn and winter, however, the production drops significantly due to less sunlight. You can expect around 3.60 kWh/day per kW during autumn and only about 2.23 kWh/day per kW in winter.
To maximize your total annual production from your solar panels at this location, you should tilt them at an angle of 37 degrees facing southwards.
As far as local factors that might impede your ability to generate solar power go - like any other place in the world - weather conditions such as prolonged periods of cloud cover or heavy snowfall during winter could potentially reduce output levels from your panels by blocking sunlight.
One preventative measure you could take would be installing a system that allows you to adjust the tilt angle of your panels throughout the year so they're always getting as much sun exposure as possible regardless of what season it is or what direction the sun's coming from on any given day.
Additionally, keeping a regular maintenance schedule including cleaning dust or snow off your panels will also ensure maximum efficiency and prevent potential damage which could otherwise decrease their performance over time.
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 Plan-de-Cuques
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 43.3481, Longitude: 5.467 (Plan-de-Cuques, 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 Plan-de-Cuques, France
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Plan-de-Cuques, France (Lat/Long 43.3481, 5.467) 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 Plan-de-Cuques, 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 Plan-de-Cuques, 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 Plan-de-Cuques, 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 Plan-de-Cuques, 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 Plan-de-Cuques, France
Plan-de-Cuques is located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. The topography of this area is characterized by a mix of flat plains, hills and mountains. It lies near the foot of the Garlaban mountain range and is surrounded by several other ranges including Etoile to the north-west and Sainte-Baume to the south-east. The town itself sits on a plateau with valleys around it.
Given its location in southern France, Plan-de-Cuques experiences a Mediterranean climate which means plenty of sunshine throughout most parts of the year making it suitable for solar PV installations.
In terms of large-scale solar PV installations, areas that are relatively flat or gently sloping would be ideal as these would minimize installation costs while maximizing exposure to sunlight. Considering this, open spaces or plains outside urbanized areas could potentially be viable options. Also, south-facing slopes on some hills could also serve as good locations since they would receive maximum sun exposure throughout most parts of the day.
However, any decision for large-scale solar PV should also consider factors such as local planning regulations, proximity to power grids (for ease of feeding electricity into them), potential environmental impact and public acceptance among others.
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 7th of July 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.
