Maspalomas, Spain, located in the Canary Islands, offers a favorable environment for solar energy production throughout the year. This location in the Northern Sub Tropics benefits from its geographical position and climate, making it an attractive spot for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations.

Seasonal Solar Energy Production

The solar energy output in Maspalomas varies across seasons but remains relatively high year-round. Summer sees the peak production at 7.75 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely with 7.34 kWh/day, while autumn produces 5.57 kWh/day. Even in winter, the output remains significant at 4.47 kWh/day. These figures indicate that Maspalomas experiences strong solar potential throughout the year, with summer and spring being particularly productive seasons. The consistent sunshine and mild climate contribute to this favorable solar performance.

Optimal Panel Tilt

For fixed solar panel installations in Maspalomas, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 24 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated considering the location's latitude, the sun's position throughout the year, and the daily solar potential.

Environmental Considerations

While Maspalomas presents an excellent location for solar energy production, there are a few environmental factors to consider: 1. Dust and sand: Given its proximity to the Sahara Desert, occasional dust and sand storms may affect panel efficiency. 2. Salt spray: Being a coastal location, salt accumulation on panels could potentially impact performance. To mitigate these issues, regular cleaning and maintenance of solar panels is crucial. Additionally, using high-quality, corrosion-resistant materials for mounting systems and ensuring proper sealing of electrical components can help protect against salt-related damage.

Conclusion

Overall, Maspalomas offers an ideal location for solar PV installations. Its consistent sunshine throughout the year, particularly strong in summer and spring, makes it a prime spot for solar energy production. With proper installation techniques and regular maintenance to address potential environmental challenges, solar PV systems in this location can be expected to perform efficiently and generate substantial clean energy year-round.

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 Maspalomas

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 27.7404, Longitude: -15.611 (Maspalomas, 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 24° South in Maspalomas, Spain

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Maspalomas, Spain (Lat/Long 27.7404, -15.611) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 24° 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 Maspalomas, 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 Maspalomas, Spain. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 24° 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 Maspalomas, 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 Maspalomas, 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 Maspalomas, Spain

Maspalomas is located on the southern coast of Gran Canaria, one of Spain's Canary Islands. The topography around Maspalomas is diverse and interesting, characterized by a mix of coastal and inland features.

The immediate area surrounding Maspalomas is known for its expansive sand dunes, which form a striking natural reserve called the Dunas de Maspalomas. These golden dunes stretch for several kilometers along the coastline, creating a unique desert-like landscape right next to the Atlantic Ocean. The dunes gradually give way to a flat coastal plain that extends inland for a short distance.

Moving slightly inland from the coast, the terrain begins to rise gently. The landscape transitions into low rolling hills and plateaus, typical of the southern part of Gran Canaria. As you go further north, the elevation increases more dramatically, with the central part of the island featuring rugged mountains and deep ravines.

For large-scale solar PV installations, the areas most suited would likely be the gently sloping terrain just inland from the coastal plain. These areas offer several advantages:

1. They receive abundant sunlight due to the region's sunny climate and southerly latitude.
2. The gentle slopes provide good exposure to the sun throughout the day.
3. These areas are typically less developed than the coastal regions, offering more available land.
4. They are close enough to population centers for easy power distribution but far enough to avoid conflicts with tourism and coastal conservation efforts.

The plateaus and lower slopes of the hills to the north of Maspalomas could also be suitable locations. However, care would need to be taken to balance energy production with environmental and aesthetic concerns, as Gran Canaria relies heavily on tourism and its natural beauty is a key attraction.

It's important to note that while the immediate area around Maspalomas might be ideal in terms of sunlight, the valuable nature of coastal land for tourism and the presence of protected areas like the dunes would likely make these areas unsuitable for large-scale solar installations. Therefore, the focus would be on the inland areas that offer a good compromise between solar potential and land availability.

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.