Solar PV Analysis of Badalona, Spain
Badalona, Catalonia, Spain, situated at latitude 41.4531 and longitude 2.2252, offers a promising location for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. This coastal city in the Northern Temperate Zone experiences varying levels of solar energy production across the seasons.
Seasonal Solar Performance
Summer stands out as the peak season for solar energy production in Badalona, Catalonia, with an impressive 7.16 kWh per day for each kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows as the second-most productive season, generating 5.55 kWh daily. Autumn sees a significant drop to 3.58 kWh per day, while winter experiences the lowest output at 2.45 kWh daily.
The substantial difference between summer and winter production highlights the importance of considering seasonal variations when planning a solar PV system in Badalona. Despite the lower winter output, the location still maintains a respectable year-round average, making it a viable option for solar energy generation.
Optimal Panel Placement
For fixed panel installations in Badalona, Catalonia, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round solar production is 36 degrees facing South. This angle optimizes the panels' exposure to sunlight throughout the year, accounting for the Earth's elliptical orbit and the location's specific latitude.
Environmental Considerations
While Badalona's climate is generally favorable for solar energy production, there are a few factors to consider:
- Coastal location: Proximity to the Mediterranean Sea may lead to salt spray, potentially affecting panel efficiency over time.
- Urban environment: Being part of the Barcelona metropolitan area, air pollution and dust accumulation could impact panel performance.
To mitigate these factors, regular cleaning and maintenance of solar panels is crucial. Additionally, using high-quality, corrosion-resistant materials for mounting and wiring can help protect the system from salt-air exposure. Installing panels at a slight angle can also promote natural cleaning during rainfall, reducing dust accumulation.
Overall, Badalona's location provides a good balance of solar potential throughout the year, with summer and spring offering excellent production opportunities. While winter output is lower, the annual average remains favorable for solar PV installations, making it a worthwhile investment for clean energy production.
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 361 locations across Spain. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Spain by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Badalona
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 41.4531, Longitude: 2.2252 (Badalona, Spain), 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 36° South in Badalona, Spain
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Badalona, Spain (Lat/Long 41.4531, 2.2252) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 36° 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 Badalona, Spain
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 Badalona, Spain. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 36° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25° South in Summer | 46° South in Autumn | 56° South in Winter | 34° 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 Badalona, Spain
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 Badalona, Spain.
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 Badalona, Spain
Badalona, Spain is situated on the northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, just northeast of Barcelona. The topography of the area is characterized by a mix of coastal lowlands and nearby hills. The city itself is built on relatively flat terrain near the Mediterranean Sea, with gentle slopes rising as you move inland.
To the west and northwest of Badalona, the terrain becomes more varied and elevated. The Serra de Marina mountain range begins to rise, creating a hilly backdrop to the coastal plain. These hills, while not extremely high, provide a noticeable contrast to the flat coastal areas. They are often covered in Mediterranean vegetation, including pine forests and shrublands.
The coastline of Badalona features sandy beaches and a developed urban waterfront. As you move inland, the landscape transitions from the densely populated urban areas to more open spaces and eventually to the foothills of the Serra de Marina.
Regarding areas nearby that would be most suited for large-scale solar PV (photovoltaic) installations, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:
The ideal locations for solar PV would be areas with ample sunlight exposure, relatively flat terrain, and minimal shading from natural or man-made structures. Given these criteria, the most suitable areas near Badalona for large-scale solar PV would likely be found inland, away from the densely populated coastal zone.
The gently sloping areas just before the Serra de Marina hills begin to rise more steeply could be potential candidates. These locations would offer good sun exposure while still being relatively accessible. However, it's important to note that the region around Badalona is quite developed, so finding large, unoccupied tracts of land for solar installations may be challenging.
Another possibility could be utilizing some of the flatter areas on top of the Serra de Marina, provided they are accessible and not protected for environmental reasons. These elevated locations could potentially receive excellent sun exposure throughout the day.
It's worth mentioning that any large-scale solar PV project would need to carefully consider environmental impacts, local regulations, and the region's overall urban planning strategy. The area's natural beauty and ecological importance would likely play a significant role in determining suitable locations for such installations.
Spain solar PV Stats as a country
Spain ranks 10th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 15,952 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 9.00% of Spain's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 6th in the world). Each year Spain is generating 237 Watts from solar PV per capita (Spain ranks 20th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Spain?
Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Spain. These include the following:
1. The Spanish government offers a feed-in tariff (FIT) for businesses that install solar energy systems. This FIT guarantees a fixed price per kWh of electricity generated by the system over a period of 20 years.
2. Businesses can also benefit from tax deductions and other financial incentives when installing solar energy systems in Spain.
3. Companies may be eligible for grants or subsidies from regional governments or local authorities to help cover the cost of installation and maintenance of their solar energy systems.
4. Businesses may also be able to take advantage of net metering, which allows them to sell excess electricity generated by their solar energy system back into the grid at market prices, thus reducing their overall electricity costs even further.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Spain? 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 25th of August 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.
