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Solar Panel Installation Calculation for Home and Apartment by ClimaEco
Solar energy in Spain is not just an eco-friendly trend, but real savings on electricity bills of up to 70% per year. Thanks to Spain being one of the sunniest countries in Europe (up to 2,500 sunlight hours per year), investments in photovoltaic systems pay for themselves in just 5-7 years. ClimaEco specialists with 5 years of experience have prepared a guide for calculating the power of a solar station for your home in Alicante, Benidorm, and Gandía.
Important: The average household in Spain consumes between 3,000 and 5,000 kWh per year. To cover these needs, 7 to 12 solar panels are required, depending on the region and roof orientation.
Basic Formula for Calculating the Number of Panels
ClimaEco engineers use the following approach to calculation: Number of panels = (Annual consumption in kWh) / (Power of one panel × Peak sun hours × 365).
The simplified formula for quick calculation looks like this: N = (Monthly consumption / 30) / (Panel power × PSH), where PSH (Peak Sun Hours) is the peak solar hours for your region.
Peak Sun Hours (PSH) for our cities:
- Alicante: 4.8–5.2 hours
- Benidorm: 4.5–5.0 hours
- Gandía: 4.6–5.1 hours
Example for a family in Benidorm: Annual consumption 4,000 kWh, using 450 W panels (0.45 kW) and PSH = 4.8. Calculation: (4000 / 365) / (0.45 × 4.8) ≈ 5 panels? This is an error of the simplified approach. It's more accurate to use annual generation: one 450 W panel in Alicante generates about 600–700 kWh per year. Then 4000 / 650 ≈ 6-7 panels.
City-Specific Features
Alicante: The province leads in the number of sunny days. Municipal property tax (IBI) deduction programs are actively operating here. Thanks to high insolation, a 5 kW installation can generate up to 6,000 kWh per year, covering the needs of a family of 4.
Benidorm: Due to dense high-rise development, proper assessment of shading is critically important. South orientation here gives maximum output. For apartments with west/south facing windows, panels on the facade (bifacial modules) can be effective but will require precise calculation.
Gandía: Proximity to the sea requires consideration of corrosion resistance of mounts. In old houses with thick walls, it's important to check the load-bearing capacity of the roof before installation. The optimal tilt angle for year-round use is about 30-35 degrees.
Additional Factors
| Factor | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Roof orientation | South — ideal (0% losses). Southeast/west — losses 5-10%, +1 panel required. North — not recommended. |
| Tilt angle | 25-35° — optimal for annual output. For flat roofs, we use adjustable structures. |
| Electric vehicle | Planning to buy? Add +30-50% to consumption (+3-4 panels). |
| Batteries | Allow up to 90% energy usage. Without them, you send excess to the grid at a low rate. |
Professional ClimaEco Measurement
Self-calculation is only the first step. Our engineer visits the property and conducts:
- Shading analysis using special equipment (drone/lidar). Even a small shadow from a pipe can reduce output by 20%.
- Power input type check (single-phase or three-phase). For three-phase input, you can install a system more powerful than 12 kW.
- Roof condition assessment and selection of optimal mounting system (under tiles, on flat roof, etc.).
- Documentation preparation for obtaining subsidies (up to 40% of the cost) and processing connection permits.
Types of Equipment
- Monocrystalline panels (18-23% efficiency): Maximum efficiency. Ideal if space is limited. Modern models — up to 600 W.
- Polycrystalline panels (15-18% efficiency): Slightly cheaper, take up a bit more space. Good option for large roofs.
- Inverters: The heart of the system. They come in string type (one for all panels) and microinverters (per panel for optimization under shading).
- Batteries (lithium iron phosphate): Modern systems (LG Chem, BYD) can store energy for 10-15 years.
ClimaEco has been helping residents of Alicante, Benidorm, and Gandía switch to clean energy and save on bills for over 5 years. We are official partners of leading manufacturers and will help you process all necessary subsidies and tax deductions (up to 40% of the installation cost).