Solar PV Analysis of Palma, Spain
The location at Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain is fairly good for generating solar energy year-round, but there are some seasonal variations. During the summer months, you can expect to generate a lot of electricity - about 7.50 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. In spring and autumn, the output drops slightly to around 5.95 kWh/day in spring and 3.72 kWh/day in autumn respectively.
However, winter sees the lowest energy production with only about 2.74 kWh/day per kW of installed solar panels due to shorter daylight hours and lower sun intensity.
To get the most out of your solar panel installation throughout the year at this location, it's best to tilt your panels at an angle facing south by approximately 34 degrees.
As far as environmental or weather factors that might impede solar production in Palma; occasional cloud cover could limit sunlight reaching your panels which would affect power generation efficiency - but this isn't a major concern as Palma generally has plenty of sunny days throughout the year.
Another factor could be dust accumulation on your panels which can decrease their effectiveness over time if not cleaned regularly. To prevent this from impacting your system’s performance too much, regular cleaning and maintenance are recommended.
Also consider local building regulations and potential shading issues from nearby structures or trees when deciding where exactly to install your solar array in order to maximize sunlight exposure throughout different times of day/year.
Overall though – considering its latitude within Northern Temperate Zone with relatively high sunshine hours – Palma is quite suitable for installing a photovoltaic system for generating renewable energy all-year-round with proper planning and maintenance.
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 Palma
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 39.5661, Longitude: 2.6487 (Palma, 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 34° South in Palma, Spain
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Palma, Spain (Lat/Long 39.5661, 2.6487) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 34° 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 Palma, 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 Palma, Spain. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 34° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23° South in Summer | 43° South in Autumn | 54° South in Winter | 32° 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 Palma, 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 Palma, 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 Palma, Spain
Palma, Spain is located on the island of Majorca in the Mediterranean Sea. The topography around Palma is diverse, with a mix of coastal plains and mountainous regions. It includes both flat lands and hilly areas, with the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range located to the north-west.
The region has a Mediterranean climate which is characterized by hot summers and mild winters, making it suitable for solar PV installations. The best locations for large-scale solar PV would be flat or gently sloping areas that receive high amounts of sunlight throughout the year.
Several potential areas could include:
1. Plains around Palma: These flatlands can accommodate large-scale ground-mounted solar PV systems.
2. Rooftops in urban areas: In Palma city itself, rooftops of buildings can be utilized for installing smaller scale distributed solar PV systems.
3. Unused land or farmland: Any unused open spaces or less productive agricultural land can also be converted into solar farms without disrupting local ecosystems.
However, specific site selection would require detailed analysis including factors like sun exposure (solar irradiance), land use restrictions, proximity to power grids and environmental impact assessments among others.
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: Friday 28th 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.
