Solar PV Analysis of Puerto De Santiago, Spain
Puerto de Santiago, Spain, located in the Northern Sub Tropics, offers a favorable environment for solar energy generation throughout the year. This coastal town on the island of Tenerife benefits from its geographical position, which allows for consistent solar radiation across all seasons.
Seasonal Solar Performance
The location experiences strong solar output year-round, with peak performance during the summer months. In summer, solar panels can generate an impressive 7.08 kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows closely behind with 6.77 kWh/day, making these seasons ideal for maximizing solar energy production.
While autumn and winter see a decrease in solar output, the reduction is not as dramatic as in more northern latitudes. Autumn still produces a respectable 5.14 kWh/day, and even during the winter months, panels can generate 4.14 kWh/day per kilowatt installed. This consistent performance makes Puerto de Santiago an excellent location for year-round solar energy generation.
Optimal Panel Installation
To maximize year-round solar production in Puerto de Santiago, fixed solar panels should be installed at a tilt angle of 25 degrees facing south. This angle has been calculated to optimize energy capture across all seasons, taking into account the location's latitude and the sun's changing position throughout the year.
Environmental Considerations
While Puerto de Santiago's climate is generally conducive to solar energy production, there are a few environmental factors to consider:
- Coastal salt spray: Being close to the ocean, salt accumulation on panels can potentially reduce efficiency over time.
- Occasional dust from the Sahara: Known as "Calima," this phenomenon can temporarily decrease panel efficiency.
To mitigate these issues, regular cleaning of the panels is recommended. Additionally, using high-quality, corrosion-resistant materials for mounting hardware and ensuring proper sealing of electrical components can help maintain optimal performance in the coastal environment.
Overall, Puerto de Santiago presents an excellent location for solar PV installations, with consistent year-round production and only minor environmental challenges that can be easily addressed with proper maintenance and installation techniques.
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 Puerto De Santiago
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 28.2348, Longitude: -16.8468 (Puerto De Santiago, 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 25° South in Puerto De Santiago, Spain
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Puerto De Santiago, Spain (Lat/Long 28.2348, -16.8468) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 25° 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 Puerto De Santiago, 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 Puerto De Santiago, Spain. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 25° 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 Puerto De Santiago, 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 Puerto De Santiago, 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 Puerto De Santiago, Spain
Puerto de Santiago is located on the western coast of Tenerife, one of Spain's Canary Islands. The topography around this area is characterized by dramatic and varied terrain, typical of the island's volcanic origins.
The town itself is situated on a relatively flat coastal plain, but this quickly gives way to steep slopes as you move inland. The landscape rises sharply from sea level to form rugged hills and mountains. These slopes are often terraced, a legacy of traditional agriculture in the region. As you move further inland and upwards, you'll encounter the foothills of the imposing Teide volcano, which dominates the center of the island.
The coastline near Puerto de Santiago features rocky cliffs interspersed with small beaches. The ocean has carved out numerous coves and inlets, creating a jagged shoreline. Just offshore, the seafloor drops off quickly, resulting in deep waters close to the coast.
Regarding areas suitable for large-scale solar PV (photovoltaic) installations, the most promising locations would be found inland, away from the immediate coastal area. The best sites would likely be on the gently sloping areas at slightly higher elevations, where there's less maritime influence and more consistent sunlight.
Specifically, the plains and plateaus to the south and southeast of Puerto de Santiago, in the direction of Guía de Isora and Adeje, might offer suitable terrain. These areas tend to have more open, flatter land that could accommodate large solar arrays. They also benefit from Tenerife's famously sunny climate, with fewer clouds than the northern parts of the island.
However, it's important to note that much of Tenerife's land is protected for environmental and cultural reasons. Any large-scale solar development would need to carefully consider these factors and comply with local regulations. Additionally, the visual impact on the landscape, which is a key asset for the island's crucial tourism industry, would need to 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: Thursday 19th of September 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.
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Calculate Your Optimal Solar Panel Tilt Angle: A Comprehensive Guide
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