Solar PV Analysis of Braunfels, Germany
The location at Braunfels, Hesse, Germany, in the Northern Temperate Zone, is adequate for generating energy via solar PV year-round, but with varying efficiency depending on the season. In general terms, you can expect to get more energy from your solar panels in Summer and Spring than in Autumn and Winter.
In Summer, each kilowatt of installed solar power can generate about 5.25 kilowatt-hours per day. This drops to 4.29 kWh/day in Spring but falls significantly to 2.34 kWh/day in Autumn and only 1.11 kWh/day during Winter months.
Therefore, if you were thinking about when would be the best times of year to generate solar at this location - it would definitely be during the Spring and Summer months when there's more daylight hours and sunlight intensity is higher.
For a fixed panel installation at this location, it's recommended that panels are tilted at an angle of 43 degrees facing South for maximum total year-round production from solar PV.
As far as potential obstacles go that could affect your ability to generate solar power here - environmental factors could include things like heavy snowfall or ice accumulation on panels during winter which could block sunlight; while weather conditions such as frequent overcast days or fog could reduce overall sunlight exposure too.
Topography might also play a role if there are hills or buildings casting shadows over your installation site for large parts of the day - again reducing available light exposure.
To mitigate these issues:
- For snowfall/ice build-up: Installations should consider including a system for clearing off panels (either manually or automatically) whenever necessary.
- For cloudy weather/fog: Unfortunately not much can be done about this other than choosing an optimal site with less cloud cover/fog frequency.
- For topography/shadowing issues: Choosing an unobstructed site will help maximize light exposure; alternatively using tracking systems that follow the sun across its path in the sky could also help ensure panels receive as much light as possible.
In conclusion, while Braunfels, Hesse, Germany is not the ideal location for solar power generation due to its seasonal variations and potential environmental obstacles, with proper planning and installation techniques it can still be a viable source of renewable energy year-round.
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 919 locations across Germany. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Germany by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Braunfels
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 50.5132, Longitude: 8.3912 (Braunfels, Germany), 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 43° South in Braunfels, Germany
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Braunfels, Germany (Lat/Long 50.5132, 8.3912) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 43° 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 Braunfels, Germany
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 Braunfels, Germany. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 43° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34° South in Summer | 53° South in Autumn | 63° South in Winter | 43° 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 Braunfels, Germany
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 Braunfels, Germany.
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 Braunfels, Germany
Braunfels, Germany is located in the state of Hesse and features a mix of flat plains and hilly regions. The topography is characterized by its location in the Lahn-Dill-Kreis, with elevations ranging from about 150 to 500 meters above sea level. It's surrounded by forests, rivers, and agricultural land.
As for solar PV installations, it would depend on several factors including sunlight exposure, land availability and usage restrictions. Generally speaking:
1. Flat plains: These areas are usually ideal for large-scale ground-mounted solar PV installations due to their easy accessibility and less construction work needed compared to hilly or mountainous areas.
2. Agricultural lands: Depending on local regulations and policies, these could be potential locations for solar farms if they don't interfere with farming activities or can be integrated into agro-photovoltaic systems where farming and energy production coexist.
3. Building rooftops: In urban areas of Braunfels or nearby towns/cities like Wetzlar or Solms, rooftops of industrial buildings could be suitable sites for smaller-scale distributed solar PV systems.
4. Open spaces near infrastructure: Areas close to roads or railways might also be suited if there are no shading issues from surrounding structures/trees.
It should be noted that any large-scale project would need a detailed feasibility study considering not only topography but also factors like local climate (sun hours), grid connectivity possibilities, environmental impact assessments etc.
Germany solar PV Stats as a country
Germany ranks 4th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 58,461 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 9.70% of Germany's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 3rd in the world). Each year Germany is generating 702 Watts from solar PV per capita (Germany ranks 3rd in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Germany?
Yes, there are a few incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Germany. These include feed-in tariffs, which guarantee businesses a price per kilowatt hour of electricity produced from their solar system; tax incentives such as the reduction of corporate income taxes; and subsidies from regional governments or utilities. Additionally, Germany's Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) provides additional support for projects that involve renewable energies.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Germany? 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: Friday 26th 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.
