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

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this Northern Temperate Zone location varies considerably throughout the year. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 7.18kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it an excellent season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best performing season with 5.58kWh daily output per kW, providing substantial energy production during the longer days. Autumn shows a notable decline to 3.61kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with only 2.14kWh daily per kW of installed solar capacity. This dramatic seasonal swing means that winter production is less than one-third of summer output.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For maximum year-round energy production at Huesca, Aragon, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 36 degrees facing south. This optimal angle is calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles, determining optimal panel positioning, and weighting these factors using solar irradiance data while accounting for Earth's elliptical orbit around the sun.

Local Environmental Factors

Several environmental and weather factors in the Huesca region can potentially impact solar energy production:

• Dust and agricultural particles from surrounding farmland can accumulate on panels
• Occasional hailstorms during spring and summer months
• Snow accumulation during winter months
• High winds from the Pyrenees mountain range

Preventative Measures for Enhanced Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies prove effective. Regular cleaning schedules help combat dust accumulation, particularly during dry agricultural seasons. Installing panels with adequate spacing allows for natural cleaning from rainfall and prevents snow buildup. Selecting panels with tempered glass and robust frames provides protection against hail damage. Proper mounting systems designed for high wind loads ensure panels remain secure during strong Pyrenean winds. Additionally, installing panels at the recommended 36-degree angle naturally helps snow slide off more easily, reducing winter production losses. The location remains viable for solar installation, particularly given the strong summer and spring performance, though winter supplementation from other energy sources may be necessary for consistent year-round power needs.

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 Huesca

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 42.1371, Longitude: -0.4124 (Huesca, 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 Huesca, Spain

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Huesca, Spain (Lat/Long 42.1371, -0.4124) 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 Huesca, 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 Huesca, 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
26° South in Summer	46° South in Autumn	57° South in Winter	35° 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 Huesca, 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 Huesca, 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 Huesca, Spain

Topographical Features Around Huesca

Huesca sits in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountain range in northeastern Spain, positioned at an elevation of approximately 488 meters above sea level. The city occupies a strategic location where the mountainous terrain begins to transition into the flatter plains of the Ebro River valley to the south. This creates a varied landscape with rolling hills, gentle slopes, and broader valleys that characterize the pre-Pyrenean region.

The immediate surroundings of Huesca feature undulating terrain with moderate elevation changes. To the north, the landscape gradually rises toward the more dramatic peaks of the Pyrenees, while southward the land opens into wider agricultural plains. The area benefits from well-drained soils and relatively stable geological conditions, with limestone and sandstone formations common throughout the region.

Several rivers and streams flow through the area, including the Isuela River which passes near Huesca itself. These waterways have carved gentle valleys and created natural drainage patterns that contribute to the region's agricultural productivity. The terrain is generally accessible, with good road networks connecting various settlements across the rolling countryside.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most promising locations for extensive solar photovoltaic installations lie in the flatter agricultural areas south and southeast of Huesca. These zones offer large expanses of relatively level ground with minimal topographical obstacles, making them ideal for efficient panel placement and maintenance access. The gentle slopes in these areas provide natural drainage while maintaining optimal sun exposure throughout the day.

The broad valley floors and plateau areas extending toward the Ebro basin present particularly attractive opportunities for solar development. These locations typically feature stable ground conditions and are already served by existing infrastructure networks. The terrain in these areas requires minimal grading or preparation, which helps reduce installation costs and environmental impact.

Areas with south-facing slopes of moderate gradient also offer excellent potential, as they can maximize solar exposure while providing natural drainage. The rolling hills southwest of Huesca contain numerous sites where the topography naturally complements solar panel orientation requirements. These locations often benefit from good wind circulation, which helps maintain optimal panel temperatures.

Less suitable areas include the steeper terrain toward the north where the Pyrenean foothills create more challenging installation conditions. Rocky outcrops and areas with significant elevation changes would require substantial site preparation and could face shading issues from surrounding topographical features. Valley bottoms prone to fog formation or areas with poor drainage would also be less desirable for large-scale solar 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!

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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.