Crevillent, Valencia, Spain presents a moderately favorable location for year-round solar photovoltaic energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations that potential solar installers should carefully consider.

Seasonal Solar Production Performance

The solar energy output at this location shows substantial fluctuations throughout the year. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 7.53kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it an excellent period for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best season with 5.68kWh per day per kW, providing solid energy production during the transitional months. Autumn sees a notable decline to 4.05kWh per day per kW, while winter represents the most challenging period with only 2.84kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity. This winter figure is particularly low and indicates that solar systems in Crevillent will produce roughly one-third of their summer output during the coldest months.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For fixed panel installations at this location, the ideal angle to tilt solar panels to maximize total year-round production is 33 degrees facing South. This angle has been calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles at the latitude, determining optimal panel tilt angles, and weighting these by daily photovoltaic potential using solar irradiance data while accounting for Earth's elliptical orbit.

Local Environmental Factors and Mitigation Strategies

Several environmental factors in the Crevillent area could potentially impact solar energy production and should be addressed during installation planning. The Mediterranean climate brings occasional dust storms and high levels of particulate matter, particularly during dry periods and when winds carry dust from inland areas. This accumulation can significantly reduce panel efficiency by blocking sunlight from reaching the photovoltaic cells. Coastal proximity, while beneficial for temperature moderation, introduces salt air that can accelerate corrosion of metal components and create a film on panel surfaces that reduces light transmission. The combination of salt and dust creates a particularly stubborn residue that standard rainfall may not adequately remove. To combat these challenges, several preventative measures should be implemented:

• Install panels with anti-soiling coatings that make dust and salt removal easier
• Design systems with adequate tilt angles (the recommended 33 degrees helps with natural cleaning)
• Establish regular cleaning schedules, particularly important during dry periods
• Use corrosion-resistant mounting hardware and electrical components rated for marine environments
• Consider automated cleaning systems for larger installations

Overall Assessment

While Crevillent offers reasonable solar potential, particularly during summer and spring months, the significant seasonal variation means that energy storage solutions or grid-tied systems become essential for consistent year-round power supply. The location's solar resource is sufficient to justify installation costs, but proper maintenance and environmental considerations are crucial for optimal long-term performance.

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 Crevillent

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 38.2491, Longitude: -0.8035 (Crevillent, 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 Crevillent, Spain

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Crevillent, Spain (Lat/Long 38.2491, -0.8035) 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 Crevillent, 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 Crevillent, 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	30° 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 Crevillent, 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 Crevillent, Spain.

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 Crevillent, Spain

Topographical Features of Crevillent

Crevillent sits in the southeastern region of Spain within the province of Alicante, positioned in a transitional zone between the coastal plains and the inland mountain ranges. The town itself occupies a relatively flat area at approximately 50 meters above sea level, surrounded by gently rolling hills that gradually rise toward the west and northwest. The immediate vicinity features a mix of agricultural terraces and natural Mediterranean scrubland, with the landscape shaped by centuries of farming activity. The Sierra de Crevillent mountain range dominates the northern horizon, with peaks reaching over 800 meters in elevation. These limestone mountains create a dramatic backdrop and influence local weather patterns, providing some shelter from northern winds. To the south and east, the terrain opens up into the broader Vega Baja del Segura valley system, characterized by fertile alluvial plains that extend toward the Mediterranean coast roughly 15 kilometers away.

Regional Terrain Characteristics

The surrounding countryside displays typical Mediterranean topography, with numerous small valleys, gentle ridges, and occasional steep-sided ravines known locally as barrancos. The soil composition varies from rocky limestone outcrops on higher ground to rich sedimentary deposits in the valley bottoms. Vegetation consists primarily of drought-resistant species including olive groves, almond orchards, and natural garrigue shrubland. Water features remain relatively sparse in this semi-arid environment, with the Segura River system providing the main drainage network several kilometers to the south. Seasonal streams and dry riverbeds cross the landscape, typically flowing only during periods of heavy rainfall in autumn and spring.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for extensive solar photovoltaic installations lie on the gently sloping plateaus and broad ridge tops that extend southwest and southeast from Crevillent. These elevated areas, typically ranging from 100 to 300 meters above sea level, offer excellent exposure to southern skies while remaining accessible for construction and maintenance activities. The plains stretching toward Elche and Alicante present particularly attractive opportunities, featuring vast expanses of relatively flat terrain with minimal topographical obstacles. The agricultural areas between Crevillent and the coastal municipalities often contain large parcels of land that could accommodate substantial solar arrays without significant grading requirements. Areas to the west toward Aspe and the Vinalopó valley also show strong potential, where the landscape opens into broad, sun-exposed slopes facing south and southwest. The gentle gradients in these zones would minimize earthwork costs while maximizing solar collection efficiency throughout the day. The foothills of the Sierra de Crevillent, while more challenging topographically, contain numerous south-facing slopes that could support solar installations, though these locations would require more careful site planning to work with the natural contours and avoid environmentally sensitive areas.

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

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.