Solar PV Analysis of Oberursel, Germany
The location at Oberursel, Hesse, Germany is not ideal for year-round solar energy production, but it can still provide a substantial amount of energy.
In simple terms, the amount of electricity that you can generate from solar panels depends on how much sunlight they receive. In this case, the most productive season is summer where you could expect to generate around 5.25 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. This drops in autumn to about 2.34 kWh/day and further decreases in winter to around 1.11 kWh/day due to shorter daylight hours and lower sun intensity but increases again in spring up to roughly 4.29 kWh/day.
To get the most out of your solar panels throughout the year at this location, they should be tilted at an angle facing south by approximately 42 degrees which will maximize their exposure to sunlight over different seasons.
However, there are some factors that might affect how much energy you can produce with your solar panels here in Oberursel:
1) Weather: Overcast skies or foggy conditions common during certain times of the year may reduce sunlight reaching your panels thereby affecting their efficiency.
2) Physical Obstructions: Buildings or trees may cast shadows on your solar panel system and reduce its effectiveness.
To overcome these challenges:
- You could consider using more efficient types of solar cells that perform better under low light conditions.
- For physical obstructions like buildings or trees casting shadows on your panel system; careful planning during installation stage regarding placement & orientation might help avoid such issues as much as possible.
Remember though while Oberursel isn't perfect for generating power all year round via Solar PV; it's still quite capable especially during summer months when sunlight is abundant!
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 Oberursel
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 50.2107, Longitude: 8.5805 (Oberursel, 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 42° South in Oberursel, Germany
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Oberursel, Germany (Lat/Long 50.2107, 8.5805) 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 Oberursel, 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 Oberursel, Germany. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34° South in Summer | 53° South in Autumn | 63° South in Winter | 42° 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 Oberursel, 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 Oberursel, 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 Oberursel, Germany
Oberursel is located in the Taunus mountain range in the Hesse region of Germany. The topography of this area is characterized by rolling hills, forested areas, and a generally hilly terrain. The highest point nearby is the Großer Feldberg mountain which stands at 878 meters above sea level.
The most suitable areas for large-scale solar PV installations would ideally be flat or gently sloping lands with high levels of sunlight exposure and minimal shading from trees or other structures. Given Oberursel's location within a mountainous and forested region, finding such locations might be challenging within close proximity to the town itself.
However, there are potentially suitable areas towards the south-east where the land flattens out into more open plains towards Frankfurt am Main. These flatter regions may provide better conditions for solar PV installation due to less shading and easier construction logistics compared to hilly terrains.
It's also important to note that rooftops within urbanized areas like Oberursel itself can also be effective sites for smaller scale solar installations. While these wouldn't constitute "large-scale" projects on their own, collectively they could contribute significantly to renewable energy generation in the area.
Lastly, it's worth mentioning that any potential site would need thorough assessment including factors like local climate (amount of sun hours), soil condition (for ground-mounted systems), connection to power grid etc., before deciding on its suitability for large-scale solar PV deployment.
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: Sunday 30th of June 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
Tell Us About Your Work
We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.
Feeling generous?
Share this with your friends!
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.
