Benidorm
Solar panels in Benidorm, where the towers decide the shade
In a vertical city, fitting as many panels as possible is rarely the right design. We map the part of the roof that actually gets sun, check who has to agree, and size the system to what you use.
A vertical city
Every roof here has neighbours
Benidorm’s towers cast shade at certain times of day, and on many roofs part of the space is taken by lift housings, antennas, ventilation and air-conditioning units. Further out, in Poniente, La Cala and l’Horta, there are lower buildings, villas and larger plots with more room.
Before designing anything we map the usable roof area and when it gets sun, then choose the panel layout and inverter configuration for that. On a building with several owners, the community has to agree first.
What makes solar work well here is daytime use. Air conditioning and pool pumps run while the panels produce, so more of the power is used on the spot. Holiday lets and seasonal homes are a different case: a system for a house that stands empty half the year should be smaller, and usually without a battery.
As an estimate, a well-placed system on this coast produces roughly 1,250 to 1,550 kWh per kWp per year, east or west-facing roofs at the low end and south-facing roofs at the high end (EU PVGIS data). What your roof does depends on its angle, shade and how you use power, which is why we look first and put figures on paper after.
See solar panels on a flat roof and when a battery makes sense.
Is it feasible?
Detached house or shared roof
Detached house
- Who decides
- You, with the town hall paperwork.
- Shade
- Trees and nearby buildings.
- Roof and wind
- Flat or pitched; mounting chosen for the wind exposure.
- Use
- Air conditioning and pool during the day.
Apartment, shared roof
- Who decides
- The community of owners, then the town hall.
- Shade
- Towers, lift housings, antennas.
- Roof and wind
- Usually flat and high up, so wind matters more.
- Use
- Your flat, or shared services such as lifts and lighting.
This table shows what gets checked, not whether it will work. That only follows from the survey.
A customer story
Advice about what is really needed
The review does not say where this house is, so we do not present it as a Benidorm project. It shows how we start: with what the customer needs, now and later.
Sized for today, with the future in mind
Joëlle came to the house, listened, and looked at what was needed now and later. The quote came in within budget, José checked everything again before installing, and the paperwork with the town hall was handled too.
“She thought along with us about what was really needed, for the future too.”
Jacco K., Google review, translated from Dutch
For a Benidorm roof
What we need to know
- Who owns the roofAnd, if shared, whether the community agrees.
- What the roof can carryEspecially on larger or older buildings.
- Wind exposureHeight and position of the roof.
- Hours of shadePhotos at different times of day help.
- Fire and access requirementsOn larger buildings we check these with the right specialist.
- Your consumption and what the quote should cover
Around Benidorm
Towers, villas and the hills behind
Pick an area to see what usually decides the design there.
Not sure your area is covered? Send us your postcode and we will tell you.
Benidorm
Questions about solar in Benidorm
Sunrise Energy
More questions
Answers come from our own frequently asked questions, written by the Sunrise Energy team.
Can solar work on a roof shaded by taller buildings?
Often, yes, as long as part of the roof gets sun for most of the day. We map the shade across the day and seasons and place the panels where they produce longest. Sometimes the honest answer is that the roof gets too little sun, and we say so.
Who has to approve panels on a communal roof?
The community of owners, usually at an owners’ meeting, before the town hall paperwork starts. We can visit the roof and explain the options so the community can decide.
Do flat roofs need different mounting?
Yes. On a flat roof the panels sit on a frame at an angle, fixed or ballasted depending on the roof, and chosen for the wind at that height. More in solar panels on a flat roof.
Is a battery worth it if I use a lot of air conditioning during the day?
Usually less than you might think: if the air conditioning runs while the sun shines, the panels power it directly and there is little left to store. A battery earns more when much of your use is in the evening. We look at your bills before we recommend one. See when a battery makes sense.
Can you assess an address in Finestrat or La Nucía?
Send us the address and we tell you whether we can come. For the rest of the coast, see our Costa Blanca page.
Find out what your Benidorm roof can take
We map the sun on the roof first. Until then, any figure is an estimate.