Solar PV Analysis of Neuss, Germany
Neuss, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany is a decent location for generating solar energy year-round. However, it's not perfect due to the varying amounts of sunlight received throughout the different seasons.
In simple terms, the amount of electricity a solar panel can produce depends on how much sunlight it gets. In Neuss, during summer and spring, there's plenty of sun which means more electricity can be produced - about 5.22kWh/day in summer and 4.34kWh/day in spring per kilowatt (kW) of installed solar panels.
However, in autumn and winter when days are shorter with less sunlight hours and often cloudier skies – the amount of electricity that can be produced drops significantly - to around 2.31kWh/day in autumn and even lower at 1.14 kWh/day in winter per kW.
To get the most out of your solar panels year-round at this location you'd ideally want them tilted towards the south at an angle of 43 degrees so they're facing directly towards where the sun is most often.
There could also be other local factors that might affect how much energy you can generate from your solar panels here such as buildings or trees casting shadows over your panels or weather conditions like heavy snowfall covering them up completely.
To prevent these potential issues from affecting your energy production too much you could consider things like placing your panels somewhere where they won't be overshadowed by nearby structures or trees; regularly cleaning off any dust or debris that might build up on them; installing some kind of heating system to melt away any snow that lands on them; or even using adjustable mounts so you can change their angle depending on what time of year it is so they’re always facing towards where the sun will be.
But remember! Even though this place isn't perfect for generating solar power all-year round – every bit helps reduce our reliance on non-renewable energy sources and contributes to a healthier planet.
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 Neuss
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 51.187, Longitude: 6.6781 (Neuss, 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 Neuss, Germany
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Neuss, Germany (Lat/Long 51.187, 6.6781) 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 Neuss, 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 Neuss, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35° South in Summer | 54° South in Autumn | 64° 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 Neuss, 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 Neuss, 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 Neuss, Germany
Neuss, Germany is located in the North Rhine-Westphalia region. The topography of Neuss and its surrounding areas is relatively flat with a few small hills. The city lies near the west bank of the Rhine River and it's part of the larger Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.
The area is characterized by mixed agricultural land, urban areas, forests, and water bodies like rivers and lakes. The climate in this region can be classified as temperate oceanic with moderate to heavy rainfall throughout the year.
When considering large scale solar PV installations, flat open lands such as agricultural fields or unused industrial lands would be most suitable because they offer large unobstructed surface area for solar panel installation. Also these areas are usually free from shading which is crucial for optimal performance of solar panels.
In terms of specific locations around Neuss that could potentially host large-scale solar PV projects, one might consider regions to the west or south-west of the city where there appears to be more open agricultural land available.
However, it's important to note that suitability for solar energy also depends on factors like local climate conditions (amount of sunlight), legal regulations (zoning laws), proximity to power grids for connectivity etc., so a detailed feasibility study would need to be conducted before making any decisions.
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!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Monday 26th of February 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.
