Solar PV Analysis of Costa Calma, Spain
Costa Calma, Canary Islands, Spain, which is located in the Northern Sub Tropics, is a pretty good location for generating solar energy all year round. This is because it gets a decent amount of sunlight throughout the year. In terms of how much electricity you can expect to get from each kilowatt (kW) of solar power installed there, during summer you'd get about 7.06 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day and in spring around 6.99 kWh/day - that's quite high! During autumn and winter, the output drops to 5.34 kWh/day and 4.18 kWh/day respectively but it's still enough to make solar energy worthwhile.
The best times of year for generating solar energy at this location are obviously during the sunnier months – spring and summer when there are longer daylight hours.
For anyone planning on installing fixed panel solar systems at this location, they should tilt their panels at an angle of about 25 degrees facing southwards to maximize their total yearly production.
However like any other place on earth Costa Calma has its own unique environmental factors that might affect solar production; these include dust storms or sandstorms which could cover up your panels blocking sunlight hence reducing efficiency or even causing damage over time.
To protect against these factors one could consider regular cleaning maintenance especially after such weather events or even installation of protective covers if severe weather conditions are expected frequently; also choosing sturdy materials capable withstanding harsh conditions would be ideal during initial installation process itself.
In conclusion while Costa Calma does have some challenges as far as using solar power goes overall it’s still a very viable option especially given its high daily sunshine hours most part of the year.
Note: The Northern Sub Tropics extend from 23.5° latitude North up to 35° 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 Costa Calma
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 28.159, Longitude: -14.2235 (Costa Calma, 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 25° South in Costa Calma, Spain
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Costa Calma, Spain (Lat/Long 28.159, -14.2235) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 25° 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 Costa Calma, 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 Costa Calma, Spain. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 25° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12° South in Summer | 33° South in Autumn | 43° South in Winter | 21° 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 Costa Calma, 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 Costa Calma, 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 Costa Calma, Spain
Costa Calma is located in the southern part of Fuerteventura, one of Spain's Canary Islands. The topography around Costa Calma is largely flat and arid, characterized by desert landscapes with sparse vegetation. The area experiences a lot of sunshine throughout the year due to its subtropical location.
The surrounding areas are largely undeveloped, which could be suitable for large-scale solar PV installations. However, it would be important to consider environmental impacts as Fuerteventura Island has several protected natural areas.
The vast open spaces in the plains could potentially host solar farms. Additionally, rooftops on buildings in urbanized areas like Costa Calma itself could also accommodate smaller scale solar PV systems.
Areas near industrial zones or less populated regions might also be appropriate for larger installations as they tend not to have issues with land use competition and can provide easier access to existing power grids.
However, any specific plan for large-scale solar PV installation needs careful feasibility studies considering various factors including local regulations and guidelines related to renewable energy projects.
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: Wednesday 24th of April 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.
