Solar PV Analysis of Calpe, Spain
Calpe, Valencia, Spain is a decent location for generating solar energy all year round, but it's not perfect. The amount of electricity you can expect to produce from a solar panel changes with the seasons. In the summer, each kilowatt of installed solar could generate about 7.47 kilowatt-hours per day. This drops to about 4.01 kilowatt-hours per day in the autumn and further down to approximately 2.96 kilowatt-hours per day in winter before rising again to around 5.88 kilowatt-hours per day in spring.
This means that while you'll get a good amount of energy in the summer and spring, your panels won't be as productive during autumn and especially winter months when days are shorter and sunlight is less intense.
To get most out of your solar panels throughout the year at this location, they should ideally be tilted at an angle facing southwards by about 33 degrees for maximum exposure towards sun.
As far as environmental or weather factors are concerned that could potentially hinder solar production; Calpe has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters with moderate rainfall which might affect efficiency occasionally due its wet nature causing dirt or dust accumulation on panels reducing their output.
To prevent such issues affecting performance significantly; regular maintenance like cleaning off any debris or dust accumulated on panel surfaces can help ensure optimal functioning & greater energy production year-round.
In conclusion, while Calpe may not have ideal conditions for maximizing solar power generation throughout every season (especially during winter), it still offers considerable potential for harnessing sun's energy particularly during summer & spring months if appropriately managed with proper installation setup and regular maintenance measures taken into account.
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 Calpe
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 38.6374, Longitude: 0.0478 (Calpe, 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 33° South in Calpe, Spain
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Calpe, Spain (Lat/Long 38.6374, 0.0478) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 33° 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 Calpe, 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 Calpe, Spain. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 33° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22° South in Summer | 43° South in Autumn | 53° South in Winter | 31° 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 Calpe, 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 Calpe, 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 Calpe, Spain
Calpe, Spain is located on the eastern coast of the country in the province of Alicante. The topography in this region is characterized by a mix of coastal plains and mountainous terrain. Calpe itself is nestled between two large rock formations - Penon de Ifach and Sierra de Oltá.
The coastal areas are generally flat with sandy beaches, while moving inland you will find more hilly and rugged landscapes with higher elevations. The climate in Calpe is Mediterranean, with hot summers and mild winters, which makes it suitable for solar power generation.
For large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, flat or gently sloping terrains are usually preferred as they require less groundwork preparation. Therefore, the coastal plains around Calpe would be well-suited for such installations.
However, considering other factors like land use restrictions (for example protected natural parks or urban areas), accessibility for construction and maintenance works or proximity to electricity grid connections can also influence where a large-scale PV project could be most feasible.
In addition to these physical considerations, legal requirements such as zoning laws and environmental regulations should also be taken into account when planning a large-scale solar installation.
It's worth noting that many parts of Spain have excellent sunlight exposure throughout the year making them ideal candidates for solar energy projects. However detailed site-specific studies would still need to be conducted before deciding on any potential location.
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!
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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Thursday 4th of July 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.
