Sant Antoni de Portmany, Spain offers a promising location for solar energy generation, situated on the western coast of Ibiza in the Balearic Islands. This Mediterranean site experiences distinct seasonal variations in solar energy production throughout the year.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Solar panels in Sant Antoni de Portmany perform exceptionally well during summer months, generating approximately 7.49kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows as the second most productive season with 5.96kWh/day per kW. Energy generation decreases considerably during autumn (3.80kWh/day) and reaches its lowest point in winter (2.90kWh/day).

This pattern creates a significant difference between summer and winter production, with summer generating more than 2.5 times the electricity of winter months. The location's Mediterranean climate contributes to this pronounced seasonal variation.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Sant Antoni de Portmany, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 33 degrees facing South. This specific angle optimizes the capture of solar radiation throughout the year, balancing the higher summer sun path with the lower winter position.

Environmental Considerations

Several environmental factors could potentially impact solar production in this location:

• Salt air corrosion: Being a coastal Mediterranean location, salt spray can gradually damage solar equipment and reduce efficiency. Using marine-grade components and protective coatings can mitigate this issue.
• Dust accumulation: The region can experience occasional Saharan dust events that deposit fine particles on panel surfaces. Installing automated cleaning systems or scheduling regular maintenance can maintain optimal performance.
• Strong winds: While not extreme, occasional strong winds in this coastal area require secure mounting systems designed to withstand local conditions.

Despite these considerations, Sant Antoni de Portmany remains an excellent location for solar energy generation, particularly from late spring through early autumn. The substantial summer production can offset the reduced winter output, making year-round solar installation economically viable with proper system sizing.

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 Sant Antoni De Portmany

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 38.9791, Longitude: 1.3047 (Sant Antoni De Portmany, 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 Sant Antoni De Portmany, Spain

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Sant Antoni De Portmany, Spain (Lat/Long 38.9791, 1.3047) 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 Sant Antoni De Portmany, 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 Sant Antoni De Portmany, 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
23° South in Summer	43° South in Autumn	54° South in Winter	31° 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 Sant Antoni De Portmany, 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 Sant Antoni De Portmany, 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 Sant Antoni De Portmany, Spain

Sant Antoni de Portmany is situated on the western coast of Ibiza, one of Spain's Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The topography surrounding this coastal town features a diverse landscape characterized by a mixture of flat coastal areas, rolling hills, and more pronounced elevations as one moves inland.

Coastal Topography

The immediate area around Sant Antoni de Portmany includes a natural harbor with relatively flat terrain along the coastline. This coastal plain gradually transitions into gentle slopes as one moves away from the sea. The town itself is nestled in a bay area, with the terrain rising gently from sea level.

Inland Features

Moving inland from Sant Antoni, the landscape becomes increasingly undulating with hills that gradually increase in elevation. The eastern and northeastern sectors feature more pronounced hills and small mountains, with some peaks reaching heights of several hundred meters above sea level. These hills are often terraced, a traditional agricultural practice in the region. The interior of Ibiza around Sant Antoni contains numerous small valleys interspersed between these hills, creating a patchwork of different elevation levels. Many of these valleys have historically been used for agriculture, taking advantage of the fertile soil and natural protection offered by the surrounding heights.

Vegetation and Land Cover

The natural vegetation in the area consists primarily of Mediterranean scrubland, pine forests, and agricultural lands. The hills are often covered with pine trees and typical Mediterranean vegetation that has adapted to the local climate conditions. Agricultural terraces carved into hillsides are common features throughout the region.

Potential Areas for Solar PV Development

For large-scale solar photovoltaic installations, several areas near Sant Antoni de Portmany present favorable conditions: The inland plains and plateaus to the south and southeast of Sant Antoni offer relatively flat terrain that would require minimal grading for solar installation. These areas receive abundant sunlight throughout the year and have fewer shadowing effects from surrounding topography. Some of the gently sloping hillsides facing south or southwest could also be suitable, particularly those that have already been cleared for agriculture or have sparse vegetation. South-facing slopes naturally maximize solar exposure in the Northern Hemisphere. Areas along the ES-803 road corridor heading inland from Sant Antoni provide accessible terrain with moderate slopes that could accommodate solar arrays while still being accessible for construction and maintenance. The more elevated plateaus in the central part of the island, though further from Sant Antoni proper, offer expansive flat areas that would be ideal for larger installations. These higher elevations also benefit from reduced coastal humidity and potentially fewer cloudy days.

Topographical Challenges

Despite these opportunities, some areas around Sant Antoni present challenges for solar development. The steeper slopes in the northeastern sector would require significant terracing and earth-moving, increasing installation costs and environmental impact. Additionally, areas with dense pine forests would necessitate clearing, raising both ecological concerns and development expenses. The immediate coastal zones, while flat, are heavily developed for tourism and urban use, making large-scale solar installations impractical in these areas. Furthermore, some of the valleys may experience shadowing from surrounding hills during certain parts of the day, potentially reducing overall generation efficiency.

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

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