Solar PV Analysis of Orihuela Costa, Spain
Orihuela Costa, Valencia, Spain is a decent location for year-round solar energy production, though it's not the best. The amount of electricity you can get from solar panels changes with the seasons. In summer, you can expect to generate about 7.33 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. This drops to 4.20 kWh/day in autumn and further down to 3.04 kWh/day in winter before rising back up to 5.92 kWh/day in spring.
So, if we're talking about the best times of year for generating solar power at this location, summer would be ideal followed by spring because that's when your panels will produce most electricity due to longer daylight hours and more direct sunlight.
For a fixed panel installation at Orihuela Costa, Valencia, tilting your panels at an angle of 33 degrees facing South would give you the highest total amount of solar energy over the course of a year.
As far as local factors that could affect your ability to generate solar power here go - weather is definitely one factor worth considering. For instance, cloud cover or fog can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching your panels and thus lower their output; so too could dust or dirt on your panels' surface which might accumulate over time and block some sunlight unless cleaned regularly.
One way around these issues would be regular maintenance – keeping your panels clean helps them perform optimally while monitoring local weather patterns might help predict periods when generation may dip allowing for better planning around usage or storage options if available.
Environmental factors such as shading from nearby buildings or trees could also impact how much sun reaches your panel throughout different times during a day/year – this should ideally be considered during initial site assessment prior installing any system so that optimum placement can be ensured where possible.
Lastly remember that while there are ways around potential challenges like these ones, they can sometimes add to the cost or complexity of a solar installation. So it's always good to keep them in mind when planning out your project.
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 Orihuela Costa
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 37.9305, Longitude: -0.7532 (Orihuela Costa, 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 Orihuela Costa, Spain
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Orihuela Costa, Spain (Lat/Long 37.9305, -0.7532) 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 Orihuela Costa, 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 Orihuela Costa, 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 | 42° 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 Orihuela Costa, 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 Orihuela Costa, 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 Orihuela Costa, Spain
Orihuela Costa is located in the southeastern part of Spain, along the Mediterranean Sea. The topography of this area is generally flat with some hilly areas and coastal plains. It has a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters, which makes it highly suitable for solar power generation.
For large scale solar PV installation, you would ideally look for vast open spaces that receive abundant sunlight throughout the year. In Orihuela Costa region, such areas can be found towards the inland regions where there are expansive agricultural fields and unused lands. These locations have less obstruction to sunlight (like tall buildings or trees) which maximizes sun exposure on solar panels.
Additionally, considering environmental impacts and ease of connection to grid infrastructure, industrial zones could also be potential sites as they often have space available for such installations without disturbing natural habitats or residential areas.
However, before any definitive decision about location can be made, a detailed site assessment including factors like local regulations regarding land use and renewable energy projects should also be taken into account.
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: Monday 3rd of June 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.
