Greystones, Leinster, Ireland, located at latitude 53.1422 and longitude -6.0569 in the Northern Temperate Zone, experiences significant seasonal variation in solar energy production potential throughout the year. This coastal town in County Wicklow shows the typical solar generation pattern of northern European locations, with pronounced differences between summer and winter outputs.

Seasonal Solar Production

The solar electricity generation at Greystones varies dramatically across the four seasons. Summer represents the peak production period, generating approximately 5.15kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Spring follows as the second most productive season with 4.27kWh/day. Production drops considerably in autumn to 2.01kWh/day, while winter shows the lowest output at just 0.92kWh/day per installed kilowatt.

This pattern creates a roughly 5.6:1 ratio between summer and winter production, highlighting the significant seasonal disparity. The most favorable period for solar generation spans from April through September, when longer daylight hours and higher sun angles provide substantially better energy yields.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Greystones, Leinster, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 45 degrees facing south. This angle represents the weighted average of optimal daily tilts throughout the year, accounting for Earth's elliptical orbit and the varying solar elevation angles at this latitude. This configuration balances summer and winter production needs, though it slightly favors winter collection when the sun is lower in the sky.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors can impact solar generation in Greystones:

• Cloud cover and rainfall: Ireland's climate is characterized by frequent cloud cover and precipitation, which can significantly reduce solar irradiance reaching panels. Greystones averages 128 rainy days annually, with particularly cloudy conditions in late autumn and winter.
• Coastal fog and salt exposure: Being a coastal location, Greystones experiences morning sea fog that can delay solar production, particularly in summer months. Salt spray can also gradually accumulate on panels, reducing efficiency.
• Limited winter daylight: At this northern latitude, winter days are quite short (approximately 7.5-8 hours in December-January), severely limiting the solar collection window.

Preventative Measures

To maximize solar production despite these challenges, several installation strategies can help:

Regular cleaning schedules are essential to remove salt deposits and other debris, with automated cleaning systems being particularly valuable. Using high-efficiency panels rated for marine environments can mitigate some coastal effects. Additionally, incorporating micro-inverters or power optimizers helps minimize production losses from partial shading due to cloud cover.

While Greystones isn't ideal for year-round solar production compared to sunnier locations, a properly designed system can still provide significant energy contributions, particularly from March through September. The substantial summer production can offset the limited winter generation when incorporated into a comprehensive energy plan.

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 104 locations across Ireland. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.

Link: Solar PV potential in Ireland by location

Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Greystones

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 53.1422, Longitude: -6.0569 (Greystones, Ireland), 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 45° South in Greystones, Ireland

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Greystones, Ireland (Lat/Long 53.1422, -6.0569) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 45° 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 Greystones, Ireland

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 Greystones, Ireland. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 45° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
36° South in Summer	57° South in Autumn	66° South in Winter	45° 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 Greystones, Ireland

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 Greystones, Ireland.

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 Greystones, Ireland

Greystones is a coastal town situated in County Wicklow, Ireland, approximately 27 kilometers south of Dublin. The topography of the area around Greystones is characterized by a diverse landscape that combines coastal features with inland hills and valleys.

Coastal Features

Along the eastern edge of Greystones lies the Irish Sea, where the town features a mixture of rocky shores and pebble beaches. The coastline forms part of a larger bay area, with Bray Head to the north creating a distinctive headland. The shoreline is relatively low-lying, with some modest cliffs and embankments in certain sections. This coastal strip is generally flat to gently sloping, rising gradually as one moves inland.

Inland Topography

Moving westward from the coast, the terrain begins to rise more noticeably. The landscape transitions into rolling hills that form the eastern foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. These hills increase in elevation as one travels further west, eventually becoming part of the more substantial mountain range. The area features numerous small valleys and depressions created by streams and minor rivers flowing eastward toward the sea. To the southwest of Greystones lies the Great Sugar Loaf mountain (501 meters), a distinctive conical peak visible from many parts of the region. The Little Sugar Loaf (342 meters) is also nearby. These quartzite formations stand out prominently against the otherwise rounded hills of the area.

River Valleys

Several river valleys cut through the landscape around Greystones. The most significant is the valley formed by the Three Trout Stream, which flows through the northern part of Greystones before reaching the sea. These valleys typically feature more level ground surrounded by steeper slopes, creating natural corridors through the hillier terrain.

Solar PV Potential Areas

When considering areas suitable for large-scale solar PV installations near Greystones, several factors must be considered including topography, sun exposure, land use, and proximity to electrical infrastructure. The gently sloping agricultural lands to the west and southwest of Greystones offer promising potential for solar PV development. These areas benefit from reasonable sun exposure while being less visually intrusive than installations might be on higher ground. Specifically, the more level farmlands between Greystones and Kilcoole to the south provide sufficient space for larger installations. Areas along the N11 corridor, particularly where the land flattens out, could also be suitable. These locations offer the advantage of proximity to major electrical infrastructure, reducing connection costs. The relatively flat terrain in pockets between Greystones and Bray might accommodate medium-sized solar farms, though these areas face competition from residential and commercial development pressures. The upland areas further west toward the Wicklow Mountains, while receiving good sunlight on south-facing slopes, present more challenges for development due to steeper terrain, access difficulties, and potential visual impact concerns. Additionally, many of these areas have environmental designations that would restrict development. The coastal plain south of Greystones, extending toward Newcastle, contains agricultural land with favorable topography for solar development. These relatively flat areas receive good sunlight exposure and would require minimal grading, though proximity to the coast means careful consideration of visual impact would be necessary. It's worth noting that while the topography around Greystones does offer some suitable areas for solar PV development, Ireland's climate with frequent cloud cover means that solar efficiency is lower than in sunnier regions. Any large-scale development would need to balance the topographical advantages with these climatic limitations.

Ireland solar PV Stats as a country

Ireland ranks 83rd in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 136 total MW's of solar PV installed. Each year Ireland is generating 27 Watts from solar PV per capita (Ireland ranks 61st in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]

Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Ireland?

Yes, there are a number of incentives available for businesses wanting to install solar energy in Ireland. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) offers grants and other financial support for businesses that wish to install solar PV systems. Additionally, the government has introduced a Feed-in Tariff scheme which pays businesses for any excess electricity they generate from their solar panels. Finally, businesses may be eligible for tax relief on the cost of installing a solar system through the Accelerated Capital Allowance Scheme.

Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Ireland? 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

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.