Solar PV Analysis of Tarragona, Spain
Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain is a reasonably good location for generating solar energy year-round, but it's not perfect. The amount of electricity you can generate from solar panels changes with the seasons. In summer, you can expect to produce about 7.34 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kilowatt (kW) of solar panels you have installed. In autumn and winter, this drops to 3.75 kWh/day and 2.42 kWh/day respectively due to shorter daylight hours and lower sun intensity. However, in spring the production goes up again to about 5.81 kWh/day.
Therefore, the best times of year for generating solar energy at this location are during the longer daylight hours in spring and summer when the sun is more intense.
For a fixed panel installation at this location, tilting your panels at an angle of 35 degrees facing South will give you the most electricity over the course of a year.
As far as local factors that could affect your ability to generate solar power in Tarragona go; there could be some issues such as buildings or trees causing shade on your panels which would reduce their output significantly - so it's important to pick an unobstructed site if possible.
Weather conditions like fog or cloud cover can also reduce solar output temporarily but these are generally less predictable and harder to mitigate against without advanced technology like tracking systems that follow the sun's path across the sky throughout each day.
In terms of environmental factors; Spain has strict regulations around renewable energy installations so it would be important to ensure compliance with these before proceeding with any installation project.
Overall though, Tarragona is well placed geographically for generating decent amounts of solar energy throughout most parts of the year provided potential obstructions are minimized during installation planning stages.
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 Tarragona
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 41.1185, Longitude: 1.254 (Tarragona, 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 35° South in Tarragona, Spain
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Tarragona, Spain (Lat/Long 41.1185, 1.254) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 35° 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 Tarragona, 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 Tarragona, Spain. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 35° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25° South in Summer | 45° South in Autumn | 56° South in Winter | 34° 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 Tarragona, 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 Tarragona, 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 Tarragona, Spain
Tarragona is a coastal city in northeastern Spain, located in the region of Catalonia. The topography around Tarragona can be described as diverse, with a combination of flat coastal plains and hilly areas. The city itself is slightly elevated and overlooks the Mediterranean Sea.
The area to the west of Tarragona gradually rises into the Prades Mountains, while to the north it transitions into rolling hills that are part of the Catalan Coastal Range. To the south and east lies flatlands extending towards the coastline.
Considering this topography, large-scale solar PV installations could potentially be most suited for areas with flatter terrain such as those found to the south and east of Tarragona. These regions would provide ample space for installation without significant geographical obstacles like mountains or steep slopes.
However, other factors must also be considered when determining suitability for solar power generation. These include local climate conditions (amount of sunlight received), land use restrictions (agricultural or conservation lands), proximity to existing power infrastructure (for connection to grid) and potential environmental impact.
In addition, advanced solar technology can also make it possible to install PV systems on sloped terrains or even rooftops within urban areas – so hilly regions should not necessarily be ruled out completely.
It's important that any decision about where to install large-scale solar PV takes into account all these factors through detailed site assessments and feasibility studies conducted by experts in renewable energy development.
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: Sunday 10th of March 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.
