Marinha Grande, Leiria, Portugal, situated at coordinates 39.7456, -8.9321 in the Northern Temperate Zone, presents a promising location for solar PV energy generation with notable seasonal variations in output.

Seasonal Solar Production

The location experiences significant fluctuations in solar energy production throughout the year. Summer stands out as the peak production period, delivering an impressive 7.86kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Spring follows as the second most productive season with 5.99kWh/day, while autumn yields a moderate 4.22kWh/day. Winter shows the lowest output at 2.37kWh/day, which is approximately 30% of the summer production.

This seasonal pattern creates a more than 3-fold difference between winter and summer production rates, which is typical for locations in the Northern Temperate Zone. The combined spring and summer seasons (roughly March through August) represent the optimal period for solar energy generation at this site, accounting for significantly higher production than the autumn-winter period.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Marinha Grande, Leiria, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 34 degrees facing South. This carefully calculated angle balances the seasonal variations in sun position throughout the year, optimizing total annual energy harvest.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several factors could potentially impact solar production at this coastal Portuguese location:

• Salt air exposure: Marinha Grande's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean means solar installations may be exposed to salt-laden air, which can accelerate corrosion of mounting hardware and electrical connections.
• Occasional Atlantic storms: The region can experience strong winds and heavy rainfall during autumn and winter months, potentially causing physical stress on panel installations.
• Morning fog and coastal cloud cover: Being near the coast, morning fog can delay peak production hours, particularly in summer months.

To mitigate these challenges, installations should include marine-grade stainless steel mounting hardware and connections, robust structural support designed to withstand regional wind loads, and regular cleaning schedules to remove salt deposits. Additionally, micro-inverter or power optimizer technology can help minimize production losses during partial shading from morning coastal fog.

Despite these considerations, Marinha Grande's overall solar profile remains favorable, with its strong spring and summer production compensating for reduced winter output, making it a viable location for solar PV installations with proper planning and equipment selection.

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 179 locations across Portugal. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.

Link: Solar PV potential in Portugal by location

Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Marinha Grande

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.7456, Longitude: -8.9321 (Marinha Grande, Portugal), 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 34° South in Marinha Grande, Portugal

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Marinha Grande, Portugal (Lat/Long 39.7456, -8.9321) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 34° 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 Marinha Grande, Portugal

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 Marinha Grande, Portugal. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 34° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
24° South in Summer	44° South in Autumn	55° South in Winter	32° 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 Marinha Grande, Portugal

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 Marinha Grande, Portugal.

Our calculation method

1. Solar Position:
   We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination.
2. Shadow Projection:
   We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle.
3. 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 Marinha Grande, Portugal

The topography around Marinha Grande, Portugal presents a diverse landscape that transitions from coastal plains to inland hills. Situated in the Leiria District of central Portugal, Marinha Grande is positioned between the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Leiria Pine Forest (Pinhal de Leiria) to the east. This geographical setting creates a varied terrain that has distinct characteristics as one moves from the coastline inland. Near the coast, the area features relatively flat sandy terrain with occasional dunes. This coastal plain gradually rises as one moves eastward, transitioning into gently rolling hills. The elevation generally increases moving away from the ocean, though the region lacks dramatic mountain features. The town itself sits at an elevation of approximately 90 meters above sea level, nestled in this transitional zone between the coast and more elevated interior.

Surrounding Landscape Features

The Leiria Pine Forest represents a significant landscape feature in the region, covering substantial portions of the terrain east of Marinha Grande. This historic forest, originally planted in the 13th century during the reign of King Afonso III and expanded by King Dinis, creates a distinctive wooded topography that contrasts with the more open coastal areas. To the north and northeast, the landscape continues with gentle hills that become more pronounced as they extend toward the limestone massifs of the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park, located further inland. These more distant formations represent the most significant elevation changes in the broader region. The southern terrain maintains similar characteristics, with gradual elevation changes as one moves away from the coast. Several small rivers and streams cut through the landscape, creating shallow valleys that add texture to the otherwise moderately rolling topography.

Potential Areas for Solar PV Development

For large-scale solar photovoltaic installations, the inland areas east and southeast of Marinha Grande offer promising conditions. These regions benefit from several favorable topographical characteristics: The gently rolling terrain provides good exposure to the sun throughout the day, with minimal shadowing effects that might occur in more mountainous regions. Areas with slight southern-facing slopes would be particularly advantageous for solar collection efficiency. The slightly elevated inland zones typically experience less coastal fog and maritime influence than locations directly along the shoreline. This inland position helps avoid the morning fog that can sometimes affect coastal areas. Several cleared agricultural areas and non-forested zones east of the pine forest present open spaces with minimal natural obstructions. These locations combine favorable topography with existing land use patterns that might accommodate large installations. The regions southeast of Marinha Grande, extending toward Leiria, feature some plateau-like areas with consistent elevation that would minimize the engineering challenges and costs associated with preparing the ground for large-scale solar arrays. It's worth noting that while the protected Leiria Pine Forest itself would not be suitable for development due to environmental regulations, the transitional areas between forest zones and agricultural land could offer appropriate settings for solar installations, provided they meet local land use requirements. The moderately flat terrain in these recommended areas would also simplify construction and maintenance access, an important practical consideration for large-scale solar developments. The natural drainage patterns of the gentle slopes would help prevent water accumulation around solar infrastructure during rainy periods.

Portugal solar PV Stats as a country

Portugal ranks 32nd in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 1,801 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 3.40% of Portugal's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 23rd in the world). Each year Portugal is generating 174 Watts from solar PV per capita (Portugal ranks 29th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]

Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Portugal?

Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Portugal. The Portuguese government offers a range of financial incentives and tax breaks for businesses that invest in renewable energy sources such as solar power. These include grants, loans, and tax credits. Additionally, the government has set up a feed-in tariff system which guarantees a fixed price for electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar power. This helps to make investing in solar energy more attractive to businesses.

Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Portugal? Please reach out to us and help us keep this information current. Thanks!

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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.