Solar PV Analysis of Marsaskala, Malta
The location at Marsaskala, Malta is quite suitable for generating energy via solar PV throughout the year. The amount of energy you can generate depends on the season, with summer being the most productive time (7.96 kWh/day per kW of installed solar) and winter being the least productive (3.32 kWh/day per kW). Spring and autumn fall in between these two extremes.
For a fixed panel installation at this location, tilting your panels at an angle of 31 degrees facing South would give you the best overall results for the whole year. This means that your panels will be able to capture more sunlight as it moves across the sky.
There may be some local factors that could affect how much energy you can generate from solar PV at this location. For example, if there are hills or buildings blocking sunlight from reaching your panels, this could reduce their productivity. Weather conditions such as heavy cloud cover or dust storms could also have an impact.
To mitigate these potential issues, it's important to choose a site for your solar installation that has clear access to sunlight throughout the day and throughout all seasons of the year if possible. You should also ensure regular cleaning and maintenance of your panels to keep them free from dust and debris which may impede their performance.
In conclusion, Marsaskala in Malta is generally a good location for solar power generation due to its high levels of sunlight especially during summer months but consideration must be given to possible obstructions like buildings or hillsides when installing 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 48 locations across Malta. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Malta by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Marsaskala
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 35.8636, Longitude: 14.5624 (Marsaskala, Malta), 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 31° South in Marsaskala, Malta
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Marsaskala, Malta (Lat/Long 35.8636, 14.5624) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 31° 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 Marsaskala, Malta
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 Marsaskala, Malta. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 31° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20° South in Summer | 40° South in Autumn | 50° South in Winter | 28° 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 Marsaskala, Malta
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 Marsaskala, Malta.
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 Marsaskala, Malta
Marsaskala is a small, sea-side village located in the South Eastern Region of Malta. The region is characterized by low-lying terrain with an average elevation of 10 meters above sea level. The landscape around Marsaskala mainly consists of rocky coastline and some agricultural land.
The area has a Mediterranean climate with long, hot summers and short, cool winters which makes it suitable for solar PV installations. However, the topographical constraints such as the rocky coastline and limited flat land may pose challenges for large-scale solar PV installations.
Nearby areas that could potentially be suited for large-scale solar PV include:
1. Unused or abandoned agricultural lands: These lands can be repurposed for setting up solar farms if they are not currently being used for farming activities.
2. Rooftops: In urban areas nearby Marsaskala like Żabbar or Fgura, the rooftops of buildings can be used to install rooftop solar panels.
3. Brownfield sites: If there are any decommissioned industrial sites or other brownfield sites nearby, these could also be potential locations for installing large-scale solar panels.
4. Offshore: Given its coastal location and lack of flat land space onshore, offshore floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems could potentially be an option to consider.
However, any decision on where to place large-scale PV would need careful assessment considering various factors such as local regulations, environmental impact assessments etc., apart from just topography and climate conditions.
Malta solar PV Stats as a country
Malta ranks 73rd in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 196 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 6.50% of Malta's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 12th in the world). Each year Malta is generating 373 Watts from solar PV per capita (Malta ranks 8th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Malta?
Yes, there are incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Malta. The government offers a number of financial incentives and grants to encourage businesses to invest in renewable energy sources such as solar power. These include the Renewable Energy Investment Scheme (REIS), which provides up to €50,000 per project for eligible investments in renewable energy technologies; the Solar Photovoltaic Self-Consumption Scheme (SPVSCS), which provides a one-off grant of up to €20,000 per kWp installed; and the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme, which pays businesses for any excess electricity generated from their solar installations that is fed back into the grid.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Malta? 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: Saturday 6th of January 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.
